Kasteli Airport

Kasteli International Airport — also known as the New International Airport of Heraklion, Crete[3] (Νέος Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Ηρακλείου Κρήτης) — is an international airport under construction on the Greek island of Crete. Located in Kasteli, 39 km southeast of Heraklion, this new airport will replace the existing Heraklion International Airport and is expected to open by 2028.[4] Kasteli Hellenic Air Force Base currently operates at this location as a military facility for the Hellenic Air Force, housing F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft from the 133 Combat Group.

Initially, the new airport will have the capacity to handle nine million local and international passengers per year, with a maximum handling capacity of 18 million passengers annually. The foundation laying ceremony for the project was held in February 2020, marking the official start of construction.[5] The Ariadne Airport Group consortium, which includes GEK Terna in partnership with the Indian GMR Group, is developing, and will operate and manage the new international airport on this site.[6]

Establishment as a Civilian Airport

Background

The idea for a civilian airport at Kastelli was first introduced in 1986 by then-Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou.[12] Severe overcrowding at Heraklion International Airport has long been an issue for the existing airport, which has operated at 60% over its designed capacity during peak summer months. From 2015 to 2019, the airport handled between 6.1 and 8.1 million passengers annually, consistently exceeding its original design capacity.[13] This has led to dissatisfaction among travellers, with the current airport being ranked among the worst airports in Europe.[14][15] Strain on its facilities, along with the airport's proximity 5 km (3.1 mi) east of central Heraklion restricts expansion options of the existing airport.

In 2016, the Greek government officially tendered the construction of a relocated Heraklion airport adjacent to Kastelli Air Force Base to address the capacity and expansion issues.[16] The new location almost 40 km from Heraklion, allows for a longer runway, a commercial cone, and a larger passenger terminal designed to accommodate 10-18 million passengers annually.[17]

Planning

It is planned that the new airport will be situated on the southwestern side of Kasteli Hellenic Air Force Base, from which the air force currently operates F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighters. The idea was first proposed in 1986 by then-Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou. The project has officially entered the implementation phase, and tenders have been invited. The new airport was planned to become operational in 2014. The existing airport at Heraklion will be closed and an area of 278 ha there will be returned to local communities for a large urban regeneration plan. The creation of the new airport will require new road, water and sanitation works, as well as the transfer of settlements located within the proposed runway zone (Archangelos, Roussochoria). The construction of a 17 km road will connect the airport with the A90 motorway along the north coast of Crete, in the neighbourhood of Chersonissos. When finished, the distance from the city of Heraklion to the new airport will be approximately 40 km. Complaints have been filed for lack of a new road linking the new airport to the south coast of Crete.

The new airport will be constructed over an area of 600 ha, adjacent to the current military airport in Kasteli. It will have a runway 3800 m long to accommodate larger aircraft than can presently be operated into Heraklion airport. An additional area of 22 ha is reserved for commercial activity south-west of the new airport. This is a very large project with a budget of €1.2 billion for construction costs alone, and together with purchase costs including loans and other expenses, will reach €1.5 billion.[18]

Initially,[19]

Construction

The construction phase of the airport commenced in February 2020 after Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis laid the foundation stone. Under the concession agreement, the construction of the airport is set to last a total of 60 months (i.e., 5 years) until 2025.[25] Due to the impact COVID-19 pandemic had on the construction timeline, the commencement of operations was pushed back to late 2027 or early 2028.[26] According to the latest revisions of the master plan, the airport is to have a 94,000 square meter terminal, 10 passenger boarding bridges, 19 boarding gates and an initial capacity of 11 million passengers per year.[27]

In June 2024, construction crew discovered an ancient Minoan architectural ensemble on the top of Papoura Hill where a radar system was planned to be built. After meeting with Greece’s Culture Ministry, planners decided to prioritize the excavation and protection of the ancient structure while concurrently continuing airport construction in other areas.[28]

nativename	Αεροδρόμιο Καστελίου
image-width	250
icao	LGTL
pushpin map	Greece
pushpin map caption	Location in Greece
pushpin label	LGTL
pushpin label position	top
type	Under construction
operator	International Airport Heraklion Crete Concession S.A.
city-served	Heraklion
location	Kasteli, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
elevation-f	1180
elevation-m	360
metric-elev	yes
coordinates	35.19344°N, 25.32808°W
website	www.heraklion-airport.gr/en/the-new-airport
r1-number	02/20
r1-length-f	10,563
r1-length-m	3220
r1-surface	Concrete
metric-rwy	yes
footnotes	Source: AIP Greece,‡R1R‡ SkyVector‡R2R‡

History as an Air Force Base

Establishment as a Civilian Airport

Background

Planning

Construction

See also

References