How Hoper is Making Island-Hopping in Greece Faster and Easier Than Ever

Hoper, the first-ever airline to offer a scheduled helicopter service in Greece, has officially launched operations, allowing holidaymakers to island-hop in style this summer.

Aiming to make travel around the idyllic Greek islands quicker and easier and improve the overall passenger experience, Hoper offers regular routes with fixed departure times to 11 destinations.

Headquartered in Athens, the innovative airline offers helicopter flights out of its base at the Koropi heliport, just a fifteen-minute drive from Athens International Airport (ATH). It also has two other hubs on the popular resort islands of Mykonos and Santorini.

Santorini, Greece / Photo: Courtesy of Oceania Cruises

Currently, Hoper is offering flights from Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini to typically hard-to-reach island destinations, including Antiparos, Folegandros, Ios, Kea, Patmos, Sifnos, Spetses, and Tifnos, with flight times of less than 45 minutes – allowing travelers more time on the island of their choice.

Fares start at just €160 ($172) one way, depending on the flight, although this can often rise due to popular demand, with some flights starting at €380 ($408) one way.

Hoper plans to operate these flights year-round using its fleet of five Robinson R44 and R66 helicopters, including a glass cockpit and panoramic windows allowing stunning views over the Mediterranean Sea.

Photo: Courtesy of Hoper

The R44 can carry three passengers, while the R66 can hold four, and both include ample space for baggage. Hoper also claims that their helicopters’ design ensures a quiet, smooth, and comfortable flight.

The airline was founded by three Greek entrepreneurs and travel enthusiasts: Dimitris Memos, Costas Gerardos, and George Papaioanniddis. They aim to revolutionize the green travel industry by providing a safe and enjoyable alternative to traditional airlines and offering travelers a more affordable option than on-demand charter services.

Following the expected success of Hoper’s launch this summer, they plan to expand their network to include some mainland destinations later this year.

“Our vision is to make vertical mobility solutions a habit for people who value their time,” said Dimitris Memos, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hoper. “With Hoper, we turn hours into minutes, and travelers earn up to a full day of vacation. It is a new, unique travel experience that makes the beauties of Greece more accessible.”

Photo: Athens, Greece. Courtesy of Constantinos Kollias / Unsplash

Dimitris Kossyfas, Chief Commercial Officer of Hoper, added: “We focus on affordability and making helicopter travel more accessible to a wider range of passengers. Hoper allows passengers to book flights and individual seats without having to charter an entire helicopter.”

While focusing on innovation and creating a unique and convenient travel experience, Hoper also claims to prioritize the safety of its passengers above all else. As part of this commitment, it uses only expert pilots to operate its flights and promises to rigorously maintain its fleet and to ensure the highest safety standards, while it has also upgraded all of the existing helipads on its network to ensure a smooth journey from start to finish.