Heraklion Airport, Crete’s largest airport and one of the busiest in Greece, is preparing for five days of runway upgrades at the end of February. This will impact you if you are planning to travel to Crete during this time. Greek airlines’ AEGEAN and SKY express announced cancellations and changes to flight schedules to and from the “Nikos Kazantzakis” airport in Heraklion from February 19th to 24th.
What are My Alternatives to Fly to Crete?
Aegean
AEGEAN has set up additional flights both to and from Chania Airport (2 daily additional flights), as well as an additional flight to and from Sitia. Flights between Heraklion and Thessaloniki will be operated from Chania airport.
Customers who hold tickets on affected flights will be notified by the airline or through their travel agencies. Travelers are advised to check the latest flight details by visiting AEGEAN’s website www.aegeanair.com.
SKY Express
Customers of SKY express whose bookings were changed because of the airline’s adjusted flight schedule will get a notification via e-mail.
New Airport Coming Soon to Crete
As part of the Crete 2030 Development Plan, Crete plans to create 480 infrastructure projects, including new roads, hospitals, marinas, ports, and an airport. The Kastelli Airport is the most anticipated part of the project because it will handle millions of passengers per year and will create hundreds of jobs. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has praised the project in his past visits to Crete.
The Kastelli Airport will replace the international airport of Heraklion, the “Nikos Kazantzakis Airport,” which is currently the second-largest airport in Greece and handles six million passengers every year. The airport is set to be completed by 2025 and the capacity will expand to 18 million passengers per year.
About Crete
Crete is the largest island in Greece, with immense cultural and archaeological heritage, and gems like the Palace of Knossos. The environment in Crete is stunning, with spectacular beaches, gorges and mountains and Mediterranean olive groves and vineyards. Crete is the fifth most visited destination in Greece, and it ranks seventh in the world in terms of the number of tourists, according to data from the World Tourism Organisation.
