- Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis Airport will close its main runway for works from 19 to January 26.
- The work area affects 600 meters of the runway.
- A NOTAM confirms flights will be served only by the diagonal runway.
- The diagonal runway can accommodate only ATR turboprop aircraft and is for daytime operations only.
- Meaning:
- No larger aircraft operations during this period
- No night flights
- Potential rerouting of some international flights to Chania Airport
- Some flights may pause for a week
- Example mentioned: Tirana routes could operate using turboprops
- Passengers should confirm updates directly with their airlines.
- Works include:
- pavement upgrades
- improved drainage
- enhanced lighting and runway signage
- Airport Authority says the works cannot be postponed and are crucial for safety and EU compliance.
- Schedule:
- The runway closes the morning of Monday, January 19
- Reopens the morning of Monday, January 26
- with a possible 2-day buffer depending on the weather (also, we specify, weather in Crete in January is rainy, windy, damp, so… we will see the usual delays)
- The airport will operate under a modified program and special operational plan.
Heraklion Airport is about to enter its favourite annual sport: surviving itself.
From 19 to January 26, the main runway at Nikos Kazantzakis Airport will close for a significant round of works, because when you run one of Greece’s most overloaded airports on infrastructure from another era, the runway eventually screams “enough.”
The closure is planned, official, and necessary.
It is also, inevitably, the kind of thing that makes passengers say:
“What do you mean, the runway is closed? Where are we landing? On faith?”
What Exactly Is Closing — and for How Long
The main runway will be closed:
- from Monday, January 19 (morning)
- to Monday, January 26 (morning)
The closure affects 600 meters of the runway for maintenance works.
And yes, there is a “weather allowance” of two extra days, depending on conditions — because nothing screams confidence like “maybe, unless the sky says no.”
What Flights Can Operate During the Closure
According to the NOTAM, all flights will be served exclusively via the diagonal runway.
But here is the punchline:
That runway is limited to:
- ATR aircraft only (turboprops)
- daytime operations only
So in practical terms:
- larger aircraft cannot operate;
- night flights are not possible;
- schedules may change;
- some routes may be temporarily suspended;
- international flights could be diverted to Chania Airport;
- example given: Tirana flights may be operated with turboprops.
Translation for normal humans: check your flight, double-check it, then recheck it.
The airport will continue to operate under a modified program and a special operational plan.
Why They Are Doing It (Besides the Obvious)
The airport’s runway has been under extreme pressure for years, especially in summer when passenger numbers break records, and the entire building looks like it is auditioning for a disaster movie.
According to the airport manager, Iakovos Ouranos, the works focus on:
- runway pavement upgrades
- better drainage
- stronger lighting
- improved signage
In other words, the basics needed for safe flight operations, especially during peak periods.
Authorities say these works could not be postponed any further — and that is believable, because the airport already operates like a tired donkey that keeps being asked to carry a piano.
The Real Context: Until Kastelli Opens, This Is What We Have
No matter how many upgrades are made, Nikos Kazantzakis remains an old airport operating at the edge of capacity.
This runway closure is yet another reminder that the real solution is not cosmetic fixes — it is the transition to the new airport in Kastelli, the one meant to permanently end these structural problems.
Until then, every upgrade project becomes a balancing act:
- safety + EU standards
- versus daily operation
- versus the tourism economy
- versus passenger sanity
And that is why the runway is closing. Not for comfort. For survival.