Construction work is over 50% complete, with completion targeted for the end of 2027. Connection to the road network is progressing.
Overview of the infrastructure and progress at the new Kastelli Airport
The new international airport near Kastelli in Heraklion, Crete, is set to become Greece’s second busiest airport. It’ll replace the current Heraklion airport, which can’t really handle much more traffic.
With a design capacity for up to 18 million travelers a year, the new airport will sprawl across about 6,030 acres. That’s a huge area, honestly.
Construction crews have already finished more than half of the heavy work. The air traffic control tower and the terminal buildings are up and standing.
Runways and taxiways still need their final layers, but they’re about 60% done. New roads are also taking shape, connecting the airport to major transport arteries across Crete.
Infrastructure and Road Connections
Upgrading the road network is a big chunk of this project. They want the airport to fit neatly into Crete’s larger transport system.
Two main road links will connect the airport to the Northern Road Axis of Crete (BOAK) and the Heraklion-Viánnos road. These routes should make getting to and from the airport a lot less stressful.
To avoid disturbing archaeological sites, planners changed the road designs. They’re building two tunnels, each about 2.8 km long, on the BOAK connection.
Honestly, these tunnels are pretty important—they help protect the environment and Crete’s rich history, while still keeping the roads practical.
Financial and Development Partners
The airport’s total budget sits around €522 million. “Heraklion Crete International Airport S.A.” leads the development, with the Greek State owning 45.9%, GEK TERNA holding 32.46%, and Indian firm GMR at 21.64%.
TERNA S.A., the construction arm of GEK TERNA, is handling the building work. Their experience in big infrastructure projects definitely helps.
GMR brings in airport management know-how, while the Greek state’s stake ensures there’s some public oversight. It’s a bit of a team effort.
Employment and Economic Impact
The airport should spark a ton of jobs—both while it’s being built and when it’s up and running. Lots of folks are already on-site, working in construction.
Down the line, the airport will create jobs in transport, logistics, retail, and, of course, tourism. More visitors mean more money flowing into Crete’s local economy. That’s the hope, anyway. Boosting the local economy is a big part of the pitch.
Environmental and Cultural Considerations
Because of the project’s size and location, the Ministry of Environment and Energy had to sign off on environmental approvals. They made sure the road alignments would be as gentle as possible on the landscape.
Those tunnels? They’re there to protect archaeological sites found during planning. It’s a balancing act—modern infrastructure versus Crete’s natural and cultural legacy.
Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
Project area | 6,030 acres |
Passenger capacity | 18 million per year |
Budget | €522 million |
Construction progress | Over 50% heavy works completed |
Roads links | BOAK highway, Heraklion-Viánnos road |
Tunnel lengths | Approx. 2.8 km each |
Main developers | Greek state, GEK TERNA, GMR |
Completion date target | End of 2027 |
Green light for connecting Kastelli Airport to the road network
They’ve made real progress on the road links for the new airport near Heraklion, Kasteli. The authorities have approved the environmental conditions for these projects, which focus on connecting the airport to Crete’s main transport network.
Two main roads are in the works. The first is about 18 kilometers long, running from the airport to the Northern Road Axis of Crete (BOAK) near Hersonissos.
This road will look and feel like a motorway—two lanes each way, 17 meters wide, and a speed limit of 80 km/h. Planners expect it to handle around 13,181 vehicles every day, which is quite a lot for the area.
The second road will connect the airport with Arkalochori. It’ll be about 6 kilometers long, 11 meters wide, and have one lane in each direction.
Traffic on this route should reach about 8,718 vehicles daily. Not a small number, but manageable.
Environmental Considerations and Adjustments
They had to tweak the road routes because of some pretty significant archaeological finds. There’s a Roman aqueduct, a historic bridge, and the site known as Petrianos Lakkos.
Close to Kasteli, they also found remains from Minoan and Hellenistic times—now officially an archaeological zone. Excavations are still ongoing there.
All this history made planning tricky. The Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Ministry of Culture teamed up to adjust the road layouts, aiming to protect these heritage sites while still moving the project forward.
Additional Infrastructure Details
One standout feature of the new roads is a major tunnel near Xirokamares. They picked this option for environmental reasons.
The tunnel will be about 3 kilometers long in each direction, making the trip between Hersonissos and the new airport faster and less of a hassle.
Summary of Key Information
Road Section | Length (km) | Road Width (m) | Lanes per Direction | Estimated Traffic (vehicles/day) | Design Speed (km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Airport to BOAK (Hersonissos) | 18 | 17 | 2 | 13,181 | 80 |
Airport to Arkalochori | 6 | 11 | 1 | 8,718 | N/A |
Tunnel near Xirokamares | ~3 (each way) | N/A | 1 | N/A | N/A |
Getting those environmental terms approved really matters for these road projects to move forward. Without them, it’s tough to keep everything on schedule.
These steps help connect the airport with the rest of Crete’s transport network. It should make access smoother and, hopefully, a bit more modern too.
