Construction will be completed in fall 2026, and test flights will begin in 2027. What innovations will the most modern airport in the Mediterranean region feature?
Kastelli Airport – How Holidays Are Changing
The new international airport project in Kastelli, Crete, is taking shape and promises to become a major hub for air travel. As Greece’s second-largest airport terminal after Athens, it will stand out not only in terms of size but also in terms of technical equipment.
Just a few years ago, the area was still characterized by rolling hills and agricultural use. Now, a state-of-the-art hub with innovative technologies is being built there, which will better connect Greece and the entire Mediterranean region.
Completion in 2026
By fall 2026, the new international airport project in Kastelli will be handed over to the operator on a turnkey basis. Construction is progressing rapidly, with significant progress being made every day on the sprawling 6,030-hectare site.
Flight operations will begin in 2027 with test flights. A prerequisite for the start of commercial flight operations is a decision on the location of the radar on Papoura Hill. If this is made in the near future, operations are expected to commence towards the end of 2027 or in 2028 at the latest.
Important progress of the project:
Construction phase | Status in fall 2025 | Expected completion | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
Overall expansion | 65% | Fall 2026 | Rapid progress since 2024 (33%) |
Runway | Almost complete (3.2 km long) | Fall 2026 | Only the lighting is still missing |
Terminal building | In final phase | Fall 2026 | Central hub |
Radar installation | Still open | Decision pending | Important prerequisite for commercial operation |
The work site is changing every day. In addition to the terminal, many other facilities are already nearing completion. The 3.2-kilometer runway, which took four years to build, is one of the airport’s centerpieces.
Schedule of key milestones:
- October 2024: 33% progress.
- End of 2025: 65% progress.
- August-September 2026: Completion, preparation for opening.
- 2027: Test flights begin.
- Late 2027 to 2028: Planned start of commercial flight operations, subject to radar decision.
This airport will transform island flights and tourism by serving as an air transport hub of international importance.
Progress of implementation
Construction of the new airport is progressing well. The load-bearing structures of the terminal and control tower are largely complete. This shows that the most important parts of the building are stable and safe.
Work on the special runway surfaces is almost complete. The degree of completion here is around 96%. This means that the areas for takeoff, landing, and parking of aircraft will soon be completely ready.
The control tower is about 60% complete. It is one of the most important buildings on the site, as it is from there that aircraft are directed. At the same time, the 7-story central terminal has also been completed to approximately 60%.
The runway and taxiway are almost completely built. The 3,200-meter runway is 96% complete, and this figure is expected to rise to 100% in the next few days.
Construction and electromechanical work is progressing rapidly in most buildings. All the systems necessary for operation are being installed, from electrical to sanitary facilities.
Construction and electromechanical work is progressing rapidly in most buildings. All the systems necessary for operation are being installed, from electrical to sanitary facilities.
The new road connection between the airport and the national highway (BOAK) is 85% complete. A special project here is the 3-kilometer-long tunnel section. It is being built to protect the area due to archaeological finds.
Construction phase | Progress (%) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
Load-bearing structures | 100 | Completed |
Runway surfacing | 96% | Almost complete |
Control tower | 60% | Still under construction |
Central terminal (7 floors) | 60% | In progress |
Runway and taxiway | 96% | Nearly complete |
Road access to BOAK | 85% | Tunnel under construction due to archaeological finds |
The current status shows that the airport could be operational in a few months. Progress on the runway and the take-off and parking areas is particularly important for the planned operation.
The project is using modern construction methods to stay on schedule and ensure high quality. The next steps will involve finishing touches and technical equipment.
- Load-bearing structures are complete
- Asphalting of runways almost complete
- Electrical and mechanical installations in full swing
- Road with tunnel connection to the highway almost complete
This progress promises that the new airport will soon become a key hub for air traffic in Crete. It is expected to increase capacity and offer improved technical conditions.
What will the airport include?
The new Heraklion International Airport at Kastelli will have a runway with a length of 3,200 meters. This corresponds to ICAO category 4E. There will also be a parallel taxiway of the same length.
There will also be eight connecting taxiways between the runway and the parallel taxiway. Two additional connecting routes to the military airport taxiway are also planned.
The airport has a large aircraft parking area (apron) with various capacities:
- 5 fixed parking spaces in category E (or 10 in category C)
- 27 remote parking spaces in category C
- 2 parking spaces in category C (or 1 in category E)
- 16 spaces for general aviation
- 3 helicopter spaces
The terminal building extends over 7 floors with a total area of 93,572 m². It is more than twice the size of the existing “Nikos Kazantzakis” terminal.
A modern control tower measuring 4,850 m² and standing 44 meters tall is scheduled for completion in spring 2026. The necessary navigation equipment will be installed there.
In addition, ten functional buildings are planned for airport operations. These include:
- Fire station (1,450 m², max. response time 3 minutes)
- Police station (1,250 m²)
- Airport maintenance (1,050 m²)
- Ground handling companies
- Electricity distribution and 150 kV substation
- Water storage facility
- Wastewater treatment plant, which also serves 9 neighboring communities
- Fuel storage facility with a capacity of 7,500 m³
- Fuel supply via an underground hydrant system with 90 refueling points
- Waste disposal
The parking lots offer space for 1,546 cars, 86 of which are for people with disabilities and initially 70 for electric cars, with the possibility of expanding by 268 more. There are also parking spaces for 206 motorcycles, 168 taxis, and 96 buses. In the future, there are plans to expand by 693 car and 203 motorcycle parking spaces.
An area of 443,000 m² will be created for the commercial zone, including shopping centers, hotels, and other facilities. This zone can be expanded by 282,000 m² at a later date.
The transport links include:
- An almost 18-kilometer-long, closed connection to the BOAK (northern highway) with two lanes in each direction and a network of secondary roads along the route near the village of Hersonissos.
- A connection to the Arkalochori–Viannos country road over approximately 6 kilometers with one lane in each direction, a widened hard shoulder, and a network of secondary roads.
The project also includes extensive infrastructure work to improve the airport’s accessibility and functionality.
Taking off traffic
The new international airport project in Kastelli is expected to be the country’s second largest airport in terms of passenger traffic. It is expected to significantly boost tourism in Crete.
Initially, it was estimated that the airport would serve around 9.6 million passengers annually in its fifth year of operation. These figures were later revised upwards. Now, around 11.9 million passengers are expected in the fifth year. In the long term, in the 30th year, up to 17.8 million passengers could be handled.
By way of comparison, the existing Nikos Kazantzakis Airport is expected to handle 10 million passengers this year. The new airport in Kastelli therefore offers the potential for significantly greater growth.
Important figures at a glance
Year of operation | Passenger numbers (original) | Passenger numbers (updated) |
|---|---|---|
5th year | 9.6 million | 11.9 million |
30th year | 14.5 million | 17.8 million |
This increase in capacity is expected to give new impetus to air traffic on the island and tourism as a whole.
The airport will be equipped with modern infrastructure that can efficiently handle large numbers of passengers. This includes longer runways and larger terminal buildings, among other things.
This development represents an important step for the future economy and Crete’s connection to international destinations.
New systems
The central terminal of the new airport spans seven floors and covers an area of 93,572 m². It has one of the most modern check-in areas in Europe with 80 traditional check-in counters and 14 self-service check-in stations.
A fully automated baggage drop-off system ensures fast and smooth processing. New, state-of-the-art X-ray machines allow passengers to leave devices such as smartphones and tablets in their suitcases without having to remove them.
There are 7 passport control points and 8 electronic gates (e-gates), which can be expanded if necessary. A total of 19 departure gates are available.
The baggage management system is a major improvement on previous systems. It covers a large area and operates almost flawlessly in automated mode.
Main features of the baggage system:
Feature | Description |
|---|---|
Automated control stations | Multiple control points that check baggage sequentially |
Minimal human intervention | The system sorts and distributes baggage independently |
Suspicious case checks | At least 3 electronic control stages before manual inspection |
Investment | Around 25 million euros |
For suspicious baggage, three different electronic scanning stages are planned before the final manual check.
In addition to the technology, there will be extensive retail space with restaurants and shops, including duty-free stores.
The history and the investment
The project for the new airport in Kastelli began back in 2008. In 2009, the then Ministry of Environment, Planning, and Public Works announced the first call for tenders. However, the 2011 tender was unsuccessful due to a lack of interest caused by the economic crisis.
In 2014, the project was revisited and the first tender documents were published. However, political and economic changes led to multiple delays. In 2015, the project model was changed and new tenders were drawn up. The public consultation ended in February 2016.
After a total of eleven delays, the decisive tender for the planning, construction, financing, operation, and management of the international airport and road connections took place in October 2016. The only binding applicant was the Greek-Indian consortium of companies GEK TERNA – GMR Group.
The concession agreement was signed in February 2019. The concession period began exactly one year later, in February 2020. The ownership structure of the company “Heraklion International Airport Crete SA,” which is responsible for construction and operation, is as follows:
Shareholder | Shareholding |
|---|---|
Greek State | 45.9% |
GEK TERNA | 32.5% |
GMR Airports Greece | 21.6% |
The total investment amounts to 625 million euros. Of this, 160 million euros comes from the state, including European funding. The remainder is financed by the partners in the investment community, with GEK TERNA holding 60% and GMR 40%.
With the expansion and full development of the commercial zone, the investment is expected to rise to a total of 1.5 billion euros.
More information is available at newmoney.gr.
