Heraklion International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” (IATA: HER, ICAO: LGIR) is the primary airport on the island of Crete, Greece, and the country’s second-busiest airport after Athens International Airport. Located about 5 km east of Heraklion city center near the municipality of Nea Alikarnassos, it functions as a shared civil–military facility. The airport is named after Heraklion native Nikos Kazantzakis, a Greek writer and philosopher, and serves as the main gateway for Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Malia, Hersonissos, Stalida, Elounda, and numerous other resort areas across the island.
Heraklion Airport first opened in March 1939 on a flat stretch of agricultural land, with the first aircraft being a Junkers Ju-52. Operations halted during World War II but resumed in 1946 with DC-3 aircraft. The earliest facilities were extremely basic, consisting of tents, storm lamps for runway lighting, and smoke signals for wind direction. A small terminal was built in 1947, and commercial flights by Hellenic Airlines began in 1948, serving around 4,000 passengers. In 1953, a paved runway (initially 1,850 m) was constructed, and in 1954 the first four-engined DC-4 landed, with annual traffic reaching about 18,000 passengers. Olympic Airways began operations from 1957 onward with DC-6 aircraft. Between 1968 and 1971, the main runway was extended to 2,680 m, and a new terminal and support facilities were constructed, creating a modern airport. The first international charter flight (British Airways) operated on 18 March 1971, and the expanded airport was officially inaugurated on 5 May 1972.
Today, Heraklion International Airport has a main runway length of approximately 2,713 m (8,900 ft), suitable for small propeller aircraft, small jets, medium jets, long-range jets, regional airliners, and large airliners. It remains one of Greece’s busiest gateways, especially during the summer tourism season, and is scheduled to be replaced by the new Heraklion–Kastelli Airport later this decade.
In 2024, the airport handled about 9.38 million passengers, marking a sharp increase of over 40% compared to 2023. In July 2025 alone, over 1.69 million passengers were served, highlighting continued high demand during the peak summer months. This surge underscores the airport’s crucial role as the principal hub for both domestic and international travel to and from Crete, serving a wide range of destinations and seasonal tourist flows.
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