Key facts
| Official name | Skiathos Island National Airport "Alexandros Papadiamantis" |
|---|---|
| Codes | IATA: JSI · ICAO: LGSK |
| Location | East side of Skiathos island, about 2 km from Skiathos Town |
| In operation since | 1972 |
| Runway | One runway, 01/19 (marked 02/20 on older charts) |
| Terminal | About 7,000 m², with a small apron |
| Fire and rescue | Category 7 (upgraded from 6 in 2018) |
| Operator | Fraport Greece, since April 2017 (before that the Greek state) |
| Entry point | Designated point of entry and exit for international flights |
The airport is named after Alexandros Papadiamantis (1851–1911), one of the best-known Greek writers, who was born on Skiathos and wrote many of his stories about island life there.
The runway and the low approach
The island is hilly and the flat land on the east side is narrow, so the runway fills the space between the sea at the north end and the road and shoreline at the south end. Pilots landing on runway 01 want to touch down as early as possible to have enough runway left to stop, so they fly a steady approach that brings them low over the road just before the threshold.
Departing aircraft use the full length of the runway. On runway 01 departures, that means taxiing to the southern end, turning around and starting the take-off roll with the engines pointing at the road. That is where the jet blast comes from, and why spectators must never stand behind an aircraft that is lining up. Our Spotter's Guide explains where to stand safely.
Which end is used depends on the wind. Northerly winds, common in summer, mean runway 01 and the famous approach over the road. A southerly wind means runway 19, with aircraft arriving over the sea from the north.
Airlines and aircraft
All year round, Olympic Air connects Skiathos with Athens using ATR turboprops. From spring to autumn, the airport is served by charter and low-cost airlines bringing holidaymakers from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Germany, Austria, Italy, Poland and other European countries.
Typical summer types are the Airbus A320 and A321, the Boeing 737-800, the Embraer E-Jets and the ATR 42 and 72. For years the Boeing 757 was the largest airliner flying to Skiathos regularly and the one spotters came to see. Private jets, turboprops and helicopters visit throughout the season.
Over the years we have filmed more than 200 different aircraft here. You can look any of them up by registration, airline or type in our Aircraft Index.