- The Civil Aviation Authority has announced the start of a multi-phase project to extend and upgrade the runway and maneuvering area at Chios Airport, a technical intervention expected to significantly improve operational safety but requiring prolonged adjustments to the airport’s daily operations.
- During the first phase of the works, the airport will remain open. Yet, flights will be limited to turboprop aircraft with reduced passenger capacity, as safety restrictions imposed by the shortened runway will affect the types of aircraft that can operate.
- The runway, currently 1,511 meters, will be extended to 1,799 meters, a change considered essential to accommodate larger aircraft and improve reliability during difficult weather conditions.
- The construction schedule extends into the first quarter of 2027, with intermediate phases including temporary runway reduction, additional works on other sections of the airfield, and a period of complete closure expected before completion.
- The airport project forms part of a wider pattern of long-running public works on the island, where major infrastructure projects — including the Koris Gefyri dam, the new courthouse, and the archaeological museum — continue to progress slowly despite repeated assurances of priority funding.
The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority has formally announced the start of works for the extension and upgrade of the runway at Chios Airport “Omiros” (IATA: JKH, ICAO: LGHI), launching a project intended to improve safety and operational capacity, but also introducing temporary limitations that will affect flights for an extended period.
According to the announcement, the works concern the expansion and modernization of the maneuvering area and the runway infrastructure, requiring changes in airport operations beginning on the evening of March 12, 2026.
During the first phase, the airport will remain operational, although with restrictions. Flights will be served only by turboprop aircraft, with a reduced number of available seats, due to the safety limitations imposed while part of the runway is under construction.
A NOTAM has already been issued for this phase, while additional aviation notices will follow for the second and third stages of the project, whose completion is scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
A Longer Runway for Larger Aircraft
The main technical objective of the project is the northward extension of the runway, which currently measures 1,511 meters. Once the works are completed, the runway will reach 1,799 meters, a length that will allow the airport to handle larger aircraft and operate with greater safety margins, especially under adverse weather conditions.
From an aviation perspective, the upgrade is considered necessary for the airport’s long-term viability, as the current dimensions limit the types of aircraft that can land and reduce operational flexibility.
However, the improvement comes with a demanding construction schedule. As announced earlier this month, the runway will be reduced to approximately 900 meters for six months, followed by three additional months of work in another section of the airfield.
After these stages, the airport is expected to close completely for about two months to complete the final phase, a closure currently estimated to take place between the beginning of the year and Easter 2027.
Government Visit Highlights a Pattern of Slow Infrastructure Projects
The airport construction site was the first stop during a recent visit to Chios by the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, Athanasios Kontogeorgis, accompanied by MP Notis Mitarakis, who inspected the progress of several public works on the island.
The runway project was presented as part of a broader effort to accelerate long-delayed infrastructure. Yet, the same visit also revealed that several other projects remain unfinished after many years.
Among them is the Koris Gefyri dam, a project that began in 2004 and has yet to enter operation. According to the latest update, the study required to fill the reservoir is expected to be submitted in March 2026, after which environmental licensing and a new construction contract must follow, as the previous contractor has withdrawn from the project.
Funding, officials stated, is secured, and the expectation is that the necessary approvals “will not cause further significant delays,” a phrase that has accompanied the project for more than two decades.
Courthouse and Museum Also Moving Forward
The government delegation also visited the new courthouse, where structural works and installations have largely been completed, and interior partitions are now being installed.
If approvals and payments proceed without interruption, the building could be delivered by the end of the summer, according to the contractor.
Meanwhile, the Archaeological Museum of Chios is expected to be completed in 2026, after which the exhibition design phase will begin, allowing the collections to be installed. The new museum will include storage and conservation areas that archaeologists have long requested.
Taken together, the projects present a familiar picture of public works in Greece: important, necessary, funded. Still, progressing through long timelines in which each stage depends on the successful completion of the previous one.
For Chios Airport, the runway extension is undeniably significant. A longer runway means safer operations, the possibility of larger aircraft, and greater reliability for both residents and visitors.
Yet the schedule stretching to 2027 also illustrates the reality of infrastructure development in many parts of the country, where improvements are measured not in months but in years.
