Set to debut in 2026, Aria Hotels is investing in a network of eVTOL vertiports to make travel between Greek cities and islands easier. Gemma Harris reports
Soon, getting around Greece won’t mean getting stuck in traffic or boarding ferries to get to the islands. That’s beacuse Greek hospitality brand Aria Hotels has announced plans to build and operate four vertiports across Greece (presumably close to its properties) for small aircraft that are cleaner and quieter than helicopters.
Part of a €50 million investment to promote sustainable tourism across Greece, the initiative will instead allow tourists and business travellers to travel around the destination by electric eVTOL aircraft (aka “flying taxis”), with vertiports planned for “strategic locations” in Athens, the southern mainland, and the popular Aegean islands.
Known for its portfolio of 70 boutique properties across Greece, the Aria Hotels group will be one of the world’s first hospitality groups – and the first in Greece – to directly lease and manage ten Alia eVTOL aircraft leased from Beta Technologies through an agreement with LCI, a Libra Group subsidiary. (Aria Hotels is also part of Libra Group.)
Scheduled for completion in 2026, these vertiports will feature electric charging stations and passenger lounges. The facilities will serve as hubs for the net-carbon zero Alia eVTOL aircraft, designed to transport five passengers and a pilot or a payload of 635kg, with a maximum range of 250 nautical miles and a recharge time of under an hour.
Makir Pantazatos, CEO of Aria Hotels, says: “With the construction of this vital infrastructure, we are proud to make the first-of-its-kind investments to allow Greece to benefit from new technologies supporting ecotourism. This investment furthers Aria’s driving mission to help more travellers experience authentic Greek culture, history, and unparalleled and diverse beauty.”
Manos Kouligkas, CEO of Libra Group, says: “Through the innovative work of Aria Hotels, in partnership with our aerospace subsidiary and leading global aviation lessor, LCI, we will support sustainable tourism and the economic growth of Greece and the Greater Eastern Mediterranean region in hospitality, aerospace, renewable energy, and beyond.”
This development is expected to enhance the accessibility of Greece’s tourist destinations between the mainland and its islands. By building this infrastructure, the group addresses the need for more innovative solutions to cut carbon emissions, reduce noise pollution, enhance operational efficiency, and support sustainable economic growth and local communities.