Question 1

Is Heraklion airport open 24 hours?

Accepted Answer

It never closes. The airport’s history page puts it plainly: “Heraklion State airport ‘N. Kazantzakis’ operates daily, all year round on a 24-hour basis.”

Question 2

Who runs Heraklion airport — is it Fraport Greece?

Accepted Answer

No. The airport’s own history page is explicit: “The management and operation entity of the State Airport is the Civil Aviation Service.” Its official contact page for travellers also lists the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority’s headquarters, not a private operator. Fraport Greece does run several other Greek regional airports, but Heraklion stayed outside that arrangement.

Question 3

Which terminal do I use at Heraklion?

Accepted Answer

There is only one. Every scheduled and charter flight — arrivals and departures — uses the same terminal building, most recently expanded in April 2018 when the Duty Free operator funded a renovation finished in nine months.

Question 4

How do I get from Heraklion airport into the city?

Accepted Answer

By car it takes about 10 minutes into central Heraklion via Ikarou Avenue. Several city bus lines also start right at the terminal, with the stop within walking distance of the building, and taxis wait in designated ranks outside — or you can pre-book one to meet you in the arrivals area.

Question 5

Is the new Kastelli airport open yet?

Accepted Answer

Not yet. A joint venture of the Greek state, GEK Terna and India’s GMR Group is building an entirely new airport about 25 minutes from Heraklion by road, under a 35-year concession, with trial flights targeted for 2027. Until then, every flight to Crete’s capital still uses “Nikos Kazantzakis.”

Heraklion, Crete

HER questions travelers actually ask