Taking Flight

It’s almost over a year since that first helicopter hop from Athens to the Cyclades. And against all odds, with much excitement, many new colleagues and way more air miles, making scheduled helicopter hops more widely available is becoming a thing. Surely there were those that were finding our endeavour daring, if not unrealistic. 12 months in though, it's humbling to see what a team can do. What started as a daring idea has become a reality.

Today, hoper is not just about faster journeys; it's about reshaping how we connect people, places, and opportunities in Greece and beyond.

But let’s rewind to December 2023.

The first hop

It’s a Sunday night and as I lay fast asleep, I receive a text from a fellow traveller. One that has already started going through the mind shift of making helicopter travel mainstream. The following morning I wake up and read the invite for an impromptu brief journey to the Cyclades. It’s a glorious, sunny winter morning as the two of us are driving to the heliport. I pose the question “Who’s flying with us today?”, only to realise that the driver is also going to be manning the helicopter today. Regardless, I power through and make the bold move.

The thrill of the first lift-off!

A few minutes later we’re abeam Kea island and on our way to Andros. And just as we set foot on?the island, it already feels this has been a rewarding experience! Warm, friendly faces and cosy places in this sunny winter backdrop. So much to unpack.?

February 1st and we’re on the air again, this time to Kea, then to Tinos and to Sifnos for meeting the islands’ mayors. A cold, windy start to the day and a visit to the rather rough terrain of the Cyclades, eases off as we meet warm, friendly faces again. It's remarkable to meet the faces that run the islands and this very small places we only get to witness during our time off in summer.?Our plans for connecting their birthplace with Athens almost feels like a lifeline during the off season months.

hoper is live

A week later, the hoper brand is created as we’re in full swing aiming to go live around March time. An AI-assembled webpage serves as a holding page for a few weeks until we’re finally live on May 9th. Some of the team is driving to Spetsathlon for the long weekend for our first flight and as we take a million turns on the winding road down to Costa, we witness how helicopter travel to these harder-to-reach islands may be a game changer. Ditching complex travel logistics and hour-long journeys for short, scenic helicopter hops.

Just before the event lapses, we experience our first technical hiccup that delays a flight or two. Luckily, our flight operations and maintenance team quickly address a minor pre-cautionary measure on the additional equipment of the heli.

It’s a day of celebration as the safety standards we want to uphold are already in place. Safety first, before anything else.

Solving problems, one baggage at a time

It must be around Easter time chatting with partners in Folegandros. And again in June during our Launch event. And so many other times on video call with partners-to-be. “So what if I want to carry 20kg+ luggage?”.

And while the Ground Ops team is busy trying to set up a robust solution to the so-called showstopper, Greeks and foreigners alike have already started flying - almost daily. And, as it turns out, a personal bag and a carry-on is more than enough (at least for them). A few weeks later, extra baggage shipment is live. Problem solved.

Our team's relentless drive - from designing robust safety protocols to crafting seamless customer experiences - is slowly turning a bold vision into a growing reality.

Summer in full swing

And then there’s this intense 10-day stint across Sifnos, Mykonos and Patmos, I’ll never forget. We’re supporting the Aegean Film Festival in Patmos and with the help of our fellow teammates and pilots, we make the most of the limited time we have on getting from A to B; and then C. Have you tried working out a sensible ferry route from Mykonos to Patmos? Guess what. You can't.

Hotel visits, helicopter site inspections and meetings with local partners is what keeps us busy. Meanwhile, back in Athens we’re adding a helicopter to our fleet for a very busy August. The uptick is noticeable.

Expanding to new destinations

August 2024 and remote working is becoming the norm. I'm in between islands on the last few days in Kimolos when we're called upon to meet locals in Folegandros. Thankfully it's only a short 11' hop and one of the most scenic ones. We're presenting to the municipal board, addressing challenges and trying to make this a win-win partnership. You think every local would welcome scheduled helicopter flights to their island on a heartbeat. A no brainer service for those that want to enhance transportation and at the same time attract more visitors. But there's discussing, debating and safeguarding of everyone's concerns.

Athens to Folegandros on a 46' flight becomes a reality. hoper is already expanding to new destinations; 11 in total at the time.

October 19th, Syros. Kathimerini is hosting the Gastronomos Awards, honouring the small food producers of the Cyclades. I find myself part of this humble ceremony, meeting locals from all over the Aegean. The morning after, I’m sitting with a colleague that has now moved back to the island with her family. She’s all joyful, committed and available to help. One of those people you get to meet and are taken by their sheer energy. You wonder whether there’s any personal life behind the scenes.

And as we enjoy a morning Monday coffee by the sea, talking about transportation to the islands, she starts opening up about her mother and the therapy she’s getting in Athens every Wednesday for a few hours. Every week, they get on the 4hr boat to Piraeus, drive to the hospital, stay in Athens overnight and head back to Syros on the day after. They spend a total of almost 2 days for what shouldn't take more than just a few hours. Our promise of 'giving people back an entire day of holidays' takes a whole new meaning.

For locals, hoper means shorter travel times for urgent matters or connecting with family. For tourists, it's about maximising precious vacation days.

Athens to Syros is soon added to the mix.

Winter hops

And as flights slow down in October, the ferry strike is on. All of a sudden, a new world of possibilities opens up to locals and foreigners who're left stranded on various islands. And for those that don’t want to break the bank on a private helicopter flight, there's hoper's scheduled service that quickly shuttles people back to Athens or in between islands. Travellers hop on our helis from Tinos to Athens in under €200 a seat. And they love it.

Come November time, we’re debating on how to approach Black Friday, especially as travelling to the Greek islands has been a seasonal trait in recent years. Regardless, we embrace a bold discount in an effort to drive as many new passengers on board as possible. Cause if you try it once, you’ll surely come back. It’s that addictive. And things are starting to tick. For traveling in winter, in spring and in summer.

Looking back and ahead

It's been a tremendous year, exploring destinations in new ways and laying out the foundation on how transportation in Greece (and beyond) could change for the better. Every milestone, every challenge, and every hop has been a step toward creating a service that brings people closer, saves time, and unlocks the beauty of Greece for all.

2025 is now live and the year ahead calls for bold targets. There’s still plenty to learn and improve and, surely, more to unfold. Whether you're a local, a traveler, or someone curious about what’s next, we’re excited to share the journey with you.

Come and join at flyhoper.com.

Happy 2025!