Heraklion International Airport

HER originated in March 1939 and, during WWII, was the site of the Battle of Heraklion in 1941 (as part of the Battle of Crete). At the time, civilian operations ceased. Following the war, civilian use resumed in the autumn of 1946 via the DC-3 aircraft. At the time, the airport consisted of three tents, smoke for wind determination, and storm lamps for runway lighting. The first terminal was erected in 1947, and Hellenic Airlines began to serve the airport the following year. The first paved runway was constructed in 1953 at 1,850 meters, and the following year the airport saw its first landing of a four-engine DC-4, with 18,000 passengers served that year. The newly established Olympic Airways began to serve the airport in 1957 via the DC-6. The runway was extended to 2,860 meters from 1968 to 1971.
Moreover, a new terminal building and other facilities were constructed during this time. The first chartered flight from abroad took place on March 18th, 1971, via British Airways. As the airport was considered new following all the improvements, it was inaugurated on May 5th, 1972. The terminal was expanded in October 2017, with works completed on March 30th, 2018.

The airport is located 3.1 miles east of the of Heraklion, near the municipality of Nea Alikarnassos.

• The airport is named for Heraklion native Nikos Kazantzakis, considered a giant of Greek literature. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in nine different years. His most famous works (due to cinematic adaptations) were Zorba the Greek and The Last Temptation of Christ. 
• A new airport for Heraklion located 24 miles to the southeast of the city at Kasteli is due to open in 2025, at which point it will replace HER as the central hub for Crete. 
• The FBOs at HER include Signature Flight Support, Proton Air & Tourism Services, and Universal Aviation.