Crete Greece: Heraklion Airport of Crete Greece

Crete's primary airport serves most travelers to the island. It is located at the edge of Iraklio, and has basic customs facilities and a small parking lot.

It's official name is "Nikos Kazantzakis Airport", but it is usually referred to as Iraklion Airport. It may also be spelled Heraklion.

The airport code is HER and this is what should appear on your baggage claim checks if you are checking through the Iraklio.

If you're looking to check your baggage for a few hours, the baggage check kiosk is located in the parking lot. A few Euro per bag will hold it for you in a secure area.

Iraklion Airport flight information is available at +30 2810 397129; airport information can be reached at +30 2810 245598.

The bus service costs half a Euro and takes twenty minutes to take you to Iraklio

Heraklion International Airport History

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.

In 1957, a new airline company, Olympic Airways, started airline connections between Iraklion-Athens with DC-6B type airplanes. These planes have a capacity of 95 seats, therefore they increased substantially the number of passengers served by Iraklion Airport.

The new airport building was built in 1971. In the late 1980's, a new development project for the airport included additional buildings and additional airplane parking space. This project is still underway (1998) to satisfy the airport's rapidly increasing demands. The purpose of the entire project is to provide better and quicker service for airport traffic which will make passenger's life inside the airport, more convenient. New aeronautical systems will be installed along with new safety devices. More buildings will be built and the construction of a new runway is under consideration to overcome environmental problems caused by engine noise of the airplanes.

Today, there is enough parking space facilitate fifteen large airplanes (B 747,B 767, B 737, A 300, DC 10, etc.) and there is also a second parking area for light planes. There are various offices available in the airport. These include: Civil Aviation Authority Offices (Administration, Airport Authority, Tower, Maintenance etc.) Duty Free Shop, Information Desk, Airline Companies ( Olympic Airways, Air Greece, Lufthansa etc. ), Representative of Airline Companies, Handling Agent, Tourist Offices (E.O.T., Travel Star Zeus), Hotel Reservation Service, Rent a Car Offices, Rent a Bike Offices, Currency Exchange Offices, Bank, Restaurant, Bars, Catering, Luggage Storage Service, Lost & Found, Cart Services, Post office, Medical Office, Baby Rooms, Art Shop, Fuel Companies (EKO, BP, Mobil, Shell).

The following Table reveals data information which indicates the rapid increase of the Airport Traffic and the importance of the Airport to the local and National Economy of Hellas (Greece).