The new airplane joins the four aircraft—two helicopters and two airplanes—that were delivered in 2021 through a previous grant from SNF, further enhancing EKAV’s operational capacity to provide safe transport from islands and remote areas of the country to central locations so patients can receive the urgent care they need. SNF’s overall support for the five air ambulances—two fully outfitted Augusta Westland 109 Trekker helicopters, two Beechcraft King Air 350C airplanes, and one Beechcraft King Air 360C airplane—totals $41.6 million.
A ceremony marking the delivery of the new aircraft took place on May 12, 2025, at Elefsina Air Base, in the presence of Greece's Ministry of Health leadership as well as representatives of the National Center for Emergency Care (EKAV), the Hellenic Air Force, and SNF.
SNF Board of Directors Member and Legal Advisor George Agouridis gave remarks on behalf of the Foundation. (Read the remarks)
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also had the opportunity to see the new aircraft at the base later in the afternoon following his return from Rome, where he had cochaired the 2nd High Cooperation Council between Greece and Italy.
The Prime Minister made the following statement: “This is the third one to join our fleet; we now have three airplanes and two helicopters which are doing air ambulance missions, saving lives all over the country, supported by the Air Force. They're essentially taking a lot of the burden off our transport planes. They're specialized planes, designed for just that job. And in a country with the geographic peculiarities of ours, with the insularity, you understand how important these airplanes and helicopters are so that we can make safe and fast airlifts to larger hospitals and thus meet the urgent health needs of the entire Greek population. A big thank you, Mr. President, to the Foundation. Another important grant, but one that I think has its own special value."
Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis said, “The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) has emerged in recent years as one of the most important national benefactors in modern Greek history. Continuing its steadfast support to the National Health System, SNF proceeded with a grant for an additional aircraft, further enhancing capacity for immediate and safe patient air transport. This new contribution is essentially a gift of life for people who require emergency transport from remote areas of Greece to hospitals in large urban centers or abroad. The reinforcement of EKAV's air fleet significantly improves emergency response capabilities, as well as the coverage of remote areas. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Co-President of the Foundation, Mr. Andreas Dracopoulos, for his immediate response to the Ministry of Health’s request to strengthen the fleet."
SNF Co-President Andreas Dracopoulos said, “From the outset, our goal through the Global Health Initiative (GHI) has been to help improve access to quality health services for all. The reinforcement of EKAV's fleet with another state-of-the-art aircraft reflects this commitment. We are delighted to have the opportunity to contribute, to the extent of our abilities, to the efforts of the state to improve the health coverage of our country’s islands and remote areas and to strengthen the timely health services provided to our neighbors. We would like to thank all of our partners for their substantial contributions to the implementation of this effort. We especially wish to thank the EKAV rescuers and personnel, as well as the Air Force pilots, for the vital work they perform on a daily basis, but also for the extensive use of the first two airplanes and two helicopters procured through the SNF grant, which have already completed nearly 3,000 air transports in the last four years.”
For the design and implementation of the grant, SNF works in close collaboration with the Hellenic Ministry of Health, which owns the aircraft; EKAV, which uses them on an everyday basis; and the Hellenic Air Force, which assists in their flight operation.
In total, the five air ambulances delivered by SNF to date—two helicopters and three planes—constitute a critical operational tool for EKAV. Since the spring of 2021, the first four air ambulances have carried out nearly 3,000 air transports, actively contributing to the protection of human life.
The new plane, like the two existing ones, is designed to transport up to two critically ill patients at the same time. They are equipped in the fashion of a mobile clinic and include infrastructure for the transport of newborns with an incubator. They also feature modern aeronautical instruments and an electric stretcher lifting mechanism for greater safety and comfort. This aircraft in particular is equipped with features that allow long-haul flights outside the country’s borders to repatriate patients or transfer patients for transplantation.
This new addition to EKAV’s fleet is part of SNF’s Global Health Initiative (GHI), which encompasses more than 80 grants and aims to expand access to health services, strengthen quality of care for all, and empower providers on the front lines. The Initiative, whose budget exceeds one billion dollars, is carried out with exclusive support from SNF and based on wide-ranging collaborations in Greece and worldwide.
Photos: George Xigos | Trivision
