Hoper’s Helicopters Will Fly You to Greece’s Remote Islands in 45 Mins

Hoper has made hopping between the islands of Greece a breeze.

The country’s first and only helicopter airline, which launched in late June, has started offering quick and easy daily flights to 11 remote destinations in the Aegean Islands. With fixed routes and scheduled departure times, the choppers can reach each location in less than 45 minutes, drastically reducing transit time for travelers.

Founded by Greek entrepreneurs and travel enthusiasts Dimitris Memos, Costas Gerardos, and George Papaioannidis, Hoper is working to revolutionize air transport in the country. Historically, ferries have been the easiest way to explore Greece’s far-flung islands but choppers are a faster and flashier 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 operate year-round. The choppers will take off from Hoper’s base in Koropi, Athens, which is only a 15-minute drive from the city’s airport. Some will also depart from Mykonos, Santorini, and other islands. Travelers can book either one-way or round-trip flights. Hoper will also operate chartered flights on a request basis. Each helicopter can seat between three and four passengers.

The summer schedule includes flights to Antiparos, Folegandros, Ios, Patmos, and more. One-way fares start at a relatively modest €160 ($172) depending on the destination. To give you an idea, a 42-minute flight from Athens to the island of Tinos in August costs €380 ($408). An equivalent ferry ride will only set you back €35 ($38) but will take four hours, while a private helicopter flight with a company like Santorini Day Tours starts at €3,000 ($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.”

Hoper plans to add new destinations on the mainland of Greece later this year, further elevating travel throughout the country. Greece’s Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni described the service as “a unique step without precedent” for tourism.

For more information or to book a flight, visit the Hoper website.