A tendering process for four-year subsidized ferry contracts on Greece's less-profitable island routes is moving forward, but the Kasos-Crete connection remains uncertain due to an ongoing legal dispute. These "uneconomical routes" are state-supported lines linking smaller islands that private operators would not otherwise serve commercially.
The Kasos-Crete link is currently in legal limbo, meaning ferry service between the two islands could be disrupted or suspended until the matter is resolved. Travelers planning to visit Kasos from Crete, or use this route as part of a wider island-hopping itinerary, should check current ferry availability before booking. The broader tendering outcome will determine which operators serve these routes for the next four years, potentially affecting schedules and frequencies across several Aegean connections starting from Crete's eastern ports.