Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" is the primary airport on the island of Crete, Greece, and the country's second busiest airport after Athens International Airport. It is located about east of the main city centre of Heraklion, near the municipality of Nea Alikarnassos. It is a shared civil/military facility. The airport is named after Heraklion native Nikos Kazantzakis, a Greek writer and philosopher. Nikos Kazantzakis Airport is Crete's main and busiest airport, serving Heraklion (Ηράκλειο), Aghios Nikolaos (Άγιος Νικόλαος), Malia (Mάλλια), Hersonissos (Χερσόνησος), Stalida (Σταλίδα), Sisi (Σίσι) Elounda (Ελούντα) and other resorts.

A new airport for Heraklion, located to the south-east of the city at Kasteli, is under construction and due to open by 2027. Once completed, the new Kasteli International Airport will replace the current Heraklion International Airport as the hub for central Crete, but also providing international links for all of Crete.

History The airport first opened in March 1939. At that time, this was merely a piece of flat agricultural land. The first aeroplane (a Junkers Ju 52) carried the initial passengers to the site. During the Second World War, the airfield was the site of the Battle of Heraklion during the Battle of Crete, in 1941. Civilian operations ceased; but in the autumn of 1946, traffic resumed, introducing the DC-3 aircraft.

At first, the airport only offered very basic service, with only primitive installations on the site in the form of three tents, smoke for wind determination, and storm lamps for runway lighting.

In 1947, the first (small) terminal was erected. Hellenic Airlines started commercial flights in 1948. At that time, a total of 4,000 people were served. The year 1953 saw the construction of a paved runway which was initially 1,850 meters long and oriented as 09/27. The next major event followed in 1954, when a four-engined DC-4 aircraft landed for the first time at the airport. In that year, the airport handled approximately 18,000 passengers. From 1957 onward, the new Olympic Airways used the airport, starting services with the DC-6 aircraft.

From 1968 until 1971, the runway was extended to and a new terminal and other facilities were constructed, essentially making it a new airport. On 18 March 1971, the first charter flight from abroad operated to the airport. The new airport itself was officially inaugurated on 5 May 1972.

In 2025, farmers protesting against the delayed payment of European Union subsidies occupied the airport's apron, resulting in disruptions to aviation.

The airport is scheduled to cease operations in 2027 and to be replaced by the (expanded and renamed) Kasteli Airport.

Terminal extension The latest airport expansion projects began in October 2017.

The latest extension began in October 2017 and was completed on 30 March 2018, in time for the airport's high season.

Airlines and destinations The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Heraklion Airport:

Statistics

Traffic figures

Historical annual traffic statistics Year Flights Passengers Passengers change (%) 2001 39,290 5,046,726 2.0 2002 36,664 4,791,729 5.1 2003 39,523 4,833,507 0.9 2004 38,170 4,712,508 2.5 2005 38,266 4,932,911 4.7 2006 43,740 5,345,652 8.4 2007 46,012 5,438,369 1.7 2008 45,280 5,437,068 0.02 2009 44,842 5,052,840 7.1 2010 42,396 4,907,337 2.9 2011 44,520 5,292,687 7.9 2012 40,856 5,076,329 4.6 2013 43,544 5,792,429 14.7 2014 43,637 6,024,958 5.2 2015 43,970 6,057,355 0.5 2016 47,804 6,742,746 11.3 2017 51,114 7,336,783 8.8 2018 55,680 8,098,465 10.4 2019 52,294 7,933,558 2.0 2020 20,876 2,398,264 69.8 2021 38,628 5,046,236 112.2 2022 55,549 8,099,255 60.5 2023 57,473 8,723,031 7.7 2024 62,723 9,384,233 7.6 2025 66,996 10,033,151 6.9

Other facilities The airline Bluebird Airways has its head office at the airport."Contact." (Archive) Bluebird Airways. Retrieved on 19 September 2012. "Offices: Heraklion International Airport "N.Kazantzakis" – Address in Greek : "Γραφεία: Κρατικός αερολιμένας Ηρακλείου Νίκος Καζαντζάκης" Sky Express maintains a lounge at the airport.

See also List of airports in Crete List of the busiest airports in Greece Transport in Greece

References

External links

Official website / Civil Aviation Authority: Heraklion International Airport, "N. Kazantzakis" Official website / airport page: "N. Kazantzakis" Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" at greekairports.gr