Steeped in history and ancient culture, Crete is the largest of the Greek islands. Visitors to Crete get their first whiff of its rich cultural offerings upon landing at the Heraklion International Airport. It is second to Athens International Airport in terms of air and passenger traffic. The airport is also known as Nikos Kazantzakis, after its famous native son and prominent writer of “Zorba the Greek.” It can be spelled as Iraklion or other variants.
Heraklion airport was carved out of agricultural land in 1939. It is about five kilometers east of the city center, close to the Nea Alikarnassos municipality. Today, it covers 21,000 square meters as a civil and military facility shared with the Hellenic Air Force.
The airport has undergone several facelifts over the years. The first commercial flight out of Heraklion was a Hellenic Airlines carrier in 1948. That year the airport served 4,000 passengers. By 1954, passenger traffic swelled to 18,000 after the construction of an asphalt runway that accommodated the larger DC-4 aircraft. Latest figures from the Hellenic Civil Aviation Association show that about 4.9 million passengers flew in or out of the airport. The facility handled more than 42,000 flights and moved 1.76 metric tons of freight.
With its temperate climate and cultural offerings, Crete is a popular vacation spot for international and local tourists. Heraklion airport can become very congested in the summer during the peak of the season. Preparations are underway to mitigate the problem by building a larger airport at Kastelli Pediados by 2015. This new airport is expected to replace the Nikos Kazantzakis facility when it finally becomes operational.
But for the moment, the Heraklion airport will manage the crush of inbound and outbound passengers. Olympic Airlines and Aegean Air operate regular flights through this airport. More than 20 regional and international carriers ferry passengers to and from Heraklion during the season.
The airport has a single terminal and two asphalt runways. The first is 2.7 meters, oriented at 9/27 while the second runway is about 1.6 meters long and oriented at 13/31. The terminal houses an information center, a bank, a currency exchange and a café.
Heraklion International airport is a portal to the secrets of Knossos and the Mycenaean civilization. The Heraklion Archeological Museum is a must-see for anyone passing through the city.
