Heraklion Airport
Airport Hotels, Airport Car Rental, Parking, Maps, Flights and Airport Information

Heraklion Airport

Heraklion Airport, Crete, GR-716 01 Heraklion
Tel: +30 (281) 022.8401
Fax: (Telecommunications) +30 (281) 022.1700,
(Airport´s Mgr Secr.) +30 (281) 024.5598
e-mail: hcaalgir@otenet.gr

Airport Data: International, Heraklion 5km (3miles), Position 35°20´17"N, 025°10´39"E, Elevation 35m (114ft), 24 hours, 1 Passenger Terminal, 14 Aircraft Stands.

Airfield Data: 2 Runways, Fire Category VIII
Emergency Services: Aerodrome emergency planning, rescue and fire fighting, maintenance
Navigational Aids: Voridme, radar
Runway 1: Heading 09/27, 2,740m (8,989ft), Load: LCN 60, Aircraft size max: B747, Lighting: PAPIS, rtils, THRESHOLD LIGHT, END LIGHTS
Runway 2: Heading 13/31, 1,574m (5,164ft), Load: LCN 60, Aircraft size max: B737

Airlines Serving Airport: Aegean Aviation, Cyprus Airways, Olympic, Vernicas Aviation.

Customs Tel: +30 (81) 039 7282, +30 (81) 022 0390
Op. Hours: 24 Hours
Cargo Handling Agents: Goldair Handling SA, Olympic Airways, Swissport Hellas Sud

Passenger Facilities: Annual Capacity 8,500,000, 18 check-in desks, 20 gates, 4 baggage claim belts, short term parking spaces, long term parking spaces.

Additional Information: In the near future, it is planned to increase the number of check-in desks to 36 and also the number of gates to 16. In addition, it is planned to increase apron capacity.

HOTELS   (Click Here)
Where to stay? International Airport Guide offers discounted rates on Heraklion Airport Hotels. We have negotiated rates offering 45% off hotel rack rates. All hotels are quality rated through AAA or Mobil Travel Guide, the industry's most trusted sources.

Our special consortium rates with local airport hotels will ensure that you are receiving the lowest rates on Airport Hotels near Heraklion Airport.

Airport Facts

Many centuries passed since Ikaros, a popular character of '' Greek Mythology '', flew over Crete. Finally the myth became reality in 1937. The first airport of Iraklio was built ten kilometers east of the Palace of Knossos accommodating the first small planes.

The first plane that ever landed in Iraklion Airport was a Junkers-52, in 1939. This plane had a capacity of 14 passengers. The owner of the plane was the Greek Company of Air Transport. The operation of the airport was interrupted in 1941 due to the Second World War. In the Fall of 1946 the airport resumed its operation with planes DC-3.

At the time, the airport could not offer may conveniences. The whole airport building consisted of three tents. The first tent was used as the Airport Administration Office, the second tent was used as offices for the airline companies and the third tent was used for servicing the passengers. Storm lamps were used to illuminate the runway. The determination of wide direction intensity was based on observing the smoke caused by burning dry glass. Finally, in 1947, a small building was constructed for services and a small room as passenger area.

In 1948, a company called Ellas initiated airline connections between Iraklion Airport and other destinations. The total number of passengers served that year, was 4.000. In 1953, a new runway 09-27 was built with a total length of 1850 meters.

A four-engine plane landed for the first time in Iraklion Airport in 1954. It was a DC-4 property of the airline company TAE, and it had a capacity of 64 passengers. Such airplanes increased rapidly the number of passengers using Iraklion Airport. For example, the same year (1954), the number of passengers using Iraklion Airport was 18.000.