The new international airport under construction near Kastelli will replace the existing Heraklion International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis.” It is designed to serve the current and future aviation needs of Crete throughout the concession period.
Airport at a Glance
Main runway
3,200 metres
One landing and take-off runway built according to ICAO Code 4E requirements.
Parallel taxiway
3,200 metres
A parallel taxiway extending for the same length as the main runway.
Passenger terminal
93,000 m²
A five-level terminal building for passenger handling and airport operations.
Commercial terminal space
Approx. 13,000 m²
Retail, dining and other commercial facilities within the terminal.
Commercial development area
400,000 m²
A separate area reserved for future commercial use and development.
Main airport access road
Approx. 18 km
Connection between the airport and the Northern Cretan Motorway near Hersonissos.
Runway and Taxiway Infrastructure
| Main runway | One runway measuring 3,200 metres, designed according to ICAO Code 4E standards. |
|---|---|
| Parallel taxiway | One parallel taxiway with the same 3,200-metre length. |
| Rapid-exit taxiways | Eight rapid-exit taxiways designed to allow aircraft to leave the runway efficiently after landing. |
| Crossfield connections | Two crossfield taxiways connecting the main taxiway system with the military runway area. |
Aircraft Parking Apron
The airport apron is designed to accommodate different aircraft sizes and operating arrangements.
| Remote aircraft positions | Twenty-seven remote parking positions for aircraft. |
|---|---|
| MARS positions | Five plus one Multiple Aircraft Ramp System positions for larger or flexible aircraft parking configurations. |
| Alternative contact stands | The official project description also refers to a possible arrangement of ten plus two fixed contact stands for Category C aircraft. |
Passenger Terminal Building
The five-level passenger terminal will cover approximately 93,000 square metres. Around 13,000 square metres are planned for commercial use, while approximately 1,000 square metres will be used for permanent exhibition areas.
The terminal will contain the main passenger-processing facilities, including departures, arrivals, check-in, baggage handling, security controls, border controls, airport services and commercial areas.
Airport Support Buildings and Facilities
The project includes a wide range of operational and technical buildings needed to support the airport.
| Air traffic and safety | Control tower, fire department facilities and police installations. |
|---|---|
| Airport operations | Airport maintenance buildings and ground-service installations. |
| Power supply | Power plant and 150 kV electrical substation. |
| Water and waste | Water tanks and a wastewater treatment plant. |
| Aircraft fuel systems | Fuel farm, biofuels installation and an aircraft-refuelling hydrant system. |
| Vehicle facilities | Parking areas and supporting facilities for private cars, taxis and city buses. |
Road Connections
The airport project includes major road works designed to connect Kastelli with Hersonissos, the north coast and the wider road network of Crete.
| Hersonissos–airport connection | An approximately 18-kilometre motorway connection with two carriageways, two lanes in each direction and a side-road network. |
|---|---|
| Arkalochori–Viannos connection | An approximately 6-kilometre road connection with one lane in each direction and a side-road network. |
| Kastelli bypass | An approximately 1.5-kilometre perimeter road around Kastelli. |
| External road network | Upgrades to existing roads around the airport over an estimated combined distance of approximately 20 kilometres. |
| Airport entrance road | A two-branch access road incorporating four roundabouts. |
Ownership and Construction
| Greek State | 45.9% share in the airport concession company. |
|---|---|
| TERNA | 32.46% share. |
| GMR Airports Limited | 21.64% share. |
| Construction contractor | The airport project is being constructed by TERNA S.A. |
| Concession period | Thirty-five years from the concession commencement date in February 2020. |
Official Sources
The technical figures on this page are based on information published by the project contractor and the official airport concession company.
GEK TERNA – New Heraklion International Airport of Crete
International Airport Heraklion Crete S.A. – Project Update Hub