✈️ New airport on Crete, Kastelli airport.

Taina BLOG ENGLISH 17 May 2025 Hits: 668

It is now really going to happen, the construction of the long-awaited new airport on Crete is in full swing!

The construction has had many setbacks, the financial crisis and also Corona have caused many years of delay. As well as all the lawsuits from local olive farmers and families who lost their olive trees. Some no longer believed that this airport would ever come true.

Where is it located?

The new airport is located next to the still-used military airport of Kastelli. On the west side of this airport between the villages of Roussohoria, Archangelos and Evangelismos. If you drive south from Hersonissos and continue towards Arkalochori after Kastelli, you will pass it.

Why a new airport on Crete?

Crete is a fairly large island. There are only 2 significant airports on Crete, the largest is Heraklion airport, followed by Chania airport. There is an airport in Sitia (eastern part of Crete), but it is very small. The new airport is badly needed, the capacity of Heraklion airport is too small. There is a lot of construction going on in the tourist areas and that requires a larger infrastructure. Is Crete that big?.... Yes, if you drive from Kato Zakros (eastern point) to Falassarna (western point), you will be on the road for 6 to 7 hours with a lot of luck!

Infrastructure of the new airport in Crete

Of course, a new airport requires new roads. These are currently being constructed. A 4-lane motorway will be built from Hersonissos to Kastelli airport. Along the Aqua plus water park and the 18-hole golf course southwards. Through a 3 km long tunnel to Karouzanos and further along the village of Kastelli to the airport. Previously, it took you almost 45 minutes, now (when everything is ready) 15 to 20 minutes. This highway then continues to Arkalochori, where it connects to the previously constructed semi-highway to the south (Viannos/Tsoutsouros).

So in short, within an hour you will be in South Crete with your feet in the Libyan Sea.

Not only is this highway being worked on, but the northern highway from Chania to Agios Nikolaos will also become a 4-lane highway. The section from Hersonissos to Agios Nikolaos is already being worked on (2025), so there will be a lot of traffic congestion in that direction. Then it will be Heraklion-Rethymnon's turn. This will take some time. Sitia (East Crete) is also currently getting involved in this progress and is now also demanding a highway in their direction.

When will Kastelli airport be ready?

Test runs will start in August 2026.
Kastelli airport will open in February 2027.

Pros and cons for these new developments.

Pro:

Crete will get a boost for tourism, the island can handle a lot, after all it is sparsely populated.
We can move around the island much faster AND safer.
Winter tourism beckons! Then also direct connections with other European cities, until now you often had to go via Athens.

Con:

A lot of olive trees have been sacrificed, several villages have disappeared.
It will become a lot busier on Crete, also in winter.
South Crete, still undiscovered, will also become a more tourist destination, due to the new highway southwards.

Epilogue

We will update this article if there are changes and more progress. At the moment the airport is more than 50% ready. The highway to the south is now almost finished, only the work on the tunnel at Karouzanos has yet to begin. Below are some more photos of the construction of the airport and the construction of the roads.

And of course, you can rent a car at Kastelli airport via Eye Drive car rental