Greece’s first and only helicopter airline, launched in late June by Hoper, offers customers the opportunity to hop between 11 island destinations around the country.
Hoper has begun to offer convenient daily flights to 11 remote destinations on the Aegean islands. Operating fixed routes and scheduled departure times, the helicopters can reach each island in less than 45 minutes, significantly reducing travel time for customers.
The company was founded by Greek entrepreneurs and travel lovers Dimitris Memos, Costas Gerardos, and George Papaioannidis, and is working to revolutionize air transport in the country. Until now, ferries have been the preferred method for exploring Greece’s far-flung islands, but helicopter flights would be a faster and more luxurious alternative.
“With Hoper, we turn hours into minutes, and travelers earn up to a full day of vacation,” Hoper CEO Dimitris Memos said in a statement. “It is a new, unique travel experience that makes the beauties of Greece more accessible.”
The company’s five Robinson R44 and R66 helicopters will be in operation in Greece all year round. They will take off from Hoper’s base in Koropi, Athens, which is just a 15-minute drive from the city’s airport. A few will also set off from Mykonos and Santorini as well as other islands.
Using Greece’s new helicopters
Customers can book either one-way or round-trip flights, and Hoper will also run chartered flights on a request basis. Each helicopter can seat between three and four passengers.
The company’s summer schedule includes flights to Antiparos, Folegandros, Ios, Patmos, and more. One-way tickets start at $172, depending on the destination. A 42-minute flight from Athens to the island of Tinos in August will cost $408, with an equivalent ferry trip costing $38 and taking four hours, while a private helicopter flight with a provider like Santorini Day Tours begins at $3,220.
“We focus on affordability and making helicopter travel more accessible to a wider range of passengers,” adds Hoper CCO Dimitris Kossyfas. “Hoper allows passengers to book flights and individual seats without having to charter an entire helicopter.”
The helicopter company plans to add new destinations on the mainland of Greece late in the year, further improving the opportunity to travel throughout the country. Greece’s Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni described the service as “a unique step without precedent” for tourism.
Hoper’s website states that the company was founded after one of the founders almost missed a friend’s wedding: “Rushing from Athens to a close friend’s wedding in Patmos was more than just a race against time and travel complexities for hoper’s founder; it sparked a revelation. Why isn’t the swift ease of helicopter travel an option for everyone?”
According to the website, “Greece, whether for leisure or business travel, was calling for a service that could blend speed with accessibility. And a bit of fun.”
