A helicopter can now deliver you to 11 Greek islands in a quarter of the time a ferry takes
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- A new company, hoper, offers scheduled helicopter flights to 11 Greek destinations.
- Flights drastically cut travel time compared to traditional ferries, which can up to take six hours.
- More companies are offering premium travel options, like Blade and Uber's helicopter services.
Greece's island-goers can now fly to some of the country's most remote destinations in under 45 minutes.
Athens-based helicopter company hoper, which launched this summer, is the first that lets customers book scheduled flights to and from 11 destinations. Visitors can fly from Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini to other islands like Antiparos, Spetses, and Tinos.
One-way fares start at $195 and can go up to about $380, depending on location. A 48-minute flight from Athens to Mykonos, without any luggage, costs nearly $440 for the end of August, according to hoper's website.
"With hoper, we turn hours into minutes, and travelers earn up to a full day of vacation," said hoper CEO Demitris Memos in a press release last month.
Ferry services in Greece tend to stop at multiple islands, adding to travel time. For instance, ferry trips from Athens to Mykonos start at $46 and can take up to six hours.
Hoper also offers chartered helicopter flights for the same routes.
Helicopter companies globally are increasingly offering flights — chartered or scheduled — for people willing to pay a premium to slash time spent traveling. Locals don't always love the extra noise, though. New York City is eyeing regulations for helicopters after noise complaints soared in 2023, compared to the prior year.
Earlier this week, six of Marriott's most luxurious hotels in New York City said they are offering free helicopter airport transfers to some of their top-paying guests.
The flights will be operated by Blade, a private helicopter services company that launched in 2014. Operating in New York, Southern California, and the Bay Area, Blade sells private or shared rides to airports and places like the Hamptons.
Blade competes with Uber's helicopter services and newer players like Archer and Volocopter, part of a booming industry betting on air taxis becoming more mainstream.