Travelers heading to or from Crete, take note: Heraklion International Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis) will temporarily close its main runway for vital maintenance and safety upgrades from January 19 until January 26, 2026.
This scheduled closure is part of a carefully planned technical works cycle, aiming to enhance the safety and reliability of the airport’s primary landing and takeoff strip. Despite the main runway being out of service, the airport will remain operational throughout the week. Flights will be managed exclusively via the secondary runway.
However, there will be some important operational changes during this period:
– Only aircraft with up to 72 seats will be accommodated, due to the size limitations of the secondary runway.
– Flight operations will be limited to daylight hours, from first light until sunset, to meet technical and safety requirements.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has already issued the necessary NOTAMs, ensuring all airlines and stakeholders are informed in advance. The timing of this maintenance was strategically chosen to coincide with a period of relatively lower passenger traffic, minimizing inconvenience for travelers.
The runway upgrade involves resurfacing and other critical maintenance work to support the airport’s high passenger volume and continuous use. These improvements are essential for maintaining the airport’s safety standards and ensuring smooth operations in the future.
If you have upcoming travel plans through Heraklion Airport in late January, be sure to check with your airline for any schedule adjustments due to these temporary changes.
Stay informed and plan ahead to ensure a smooth travel experience!
For more updates on travel and infrastructure in Crete, follow our blog and social media channels.
NORMAN 'KRETANER': After more than 20 years on the ‘Island’ and having gained a lot of experience here, CreteTip does not only present you the beautiful holiday (dream) world as most travel or tourist websites do, but the reality, which is often not as colorful as on the glossy photos of the travel portals. Hence, the effort of a long-time inhabitant of the island to provide objective and unbiased reports about sights, excursions and holiday destinations, news, tips and also problems directly from the largest Greek island !
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