Avoiding high FRAPORT and HANDLING costs in Greece

I seem to remeber that Greece is part of Schengen, but ignore it. Is that correct?

If so, it might be a more productive argument to argue for the full implimation of Schengen for aircraft that have less than 10 seats? That could bypass the whole Fraport problem.

So Greece operates Schengen, but imposes customs controls on movements inside the EU.

Perhaps trying to tackle this issue (which clearly is nonsence inside the customs union and free market of the EU) might provide a nice detour around the Fraport issue? If successful, then you could land anywhere and not just expensive Fraport airports.

Might be worth thinking about?

The greater part of the problem is the HANDLER’s fees which increased as a knock on effect from FRAPORT operations.

You are of course right. The 50€ landing fee is the smaller problem. The bigger one is that at the time Fraport took over, the handling companies went berserk with their extra fees for every single item, basically not honouring the previous AOPA “all-in” agreements any more. I don’t know if anything can be done by AOPA Greece there. But they made it before, so maybe also this time. A nice “50€ all-in” (PPR, slot, buses, paperwork, etc. included) would be good. Make it 75 max. A tech stop would then be 100/125€, which would be at the very top of what is acceptable for most light-GA flyers..

My last visit to LGSM on 5 August from Cyprus to Portugal resulted in another adventure.

To make it short, it was a technical stop for refuel which ended ina huge ugly discussion with Greek authorities once I refused to pay 30 euros for customs since I was technically on a transit area.

Didn’t pay it, just cost me half an hour more and some stress.

I did pay 75 Euros for handling plus 50 + VAT for landing.

Just saw above considerations that 100 euros would be to much for a technical stop! I am probably one in here with fewer flying hours but mostly flying around different areas. Just payed less than 40 euros for a day stop at LFKC with very nice people around, with similar traffic compared with Greek Islands, touristic place and quality service.

Yes, we are being robed in Greece and coming from Schengen, victim of illegal restrictions based on ports of entry.

Unfortunately, flying from my home base in Cyprus, I am left with no alternative for a refuel stop at least heading north.

The last episode was one more.

FRAPORT, I have experienced LGSM prior and after FRAPORT, and it really changed ……… for the worse.

Never seen that anywhere in Greece. And I have landed at LGKR many times. I wonder what provoked it. The handlers know exactly who you are when they get into their car.

That’s exactly what happened to me when I landed last month at LGKR arriving from LGMG for refueling and immigration before continuing to Croatia. Regardless paid PPR and prearranged refueling (3 days in advance) and agreement on fast immigration (also conifrmed by e-mail), handling agent was completely clueless who I was. I was waiting one hour for fuel (38 degrees at tarmac) and then another hour for immigration & customs because agent escorted my passengers out of the building instead of keeping them in sterile zone.

At the end I paid €200 for this lousy service. Moreover, they swiped my card twice and I got card bill of €400 and I’m still fighting to recover my €200 back.

However, I’m flying to Greece in 10 days again :) it’s not easy to p.ss me off :)

http://www.aopa.gr/Info

Paragraph 3 should list autorouter as another flight plan filing tool