Crete is one of the most popular holiday islands in Greece, attracting thousands of people to its shores every single summer to enjoy its sun, sand, and sea.
In recent years post-pandemic, the popularity of Crete has gone skywards as it has with other European holiday destinations.
As a result, the decision has been taken to upgrade the island’s infrastructure with a brand new airport. Known as Kastelli International Airport, it is being constructed to replace the Nikos Kazantzakis International Airport.
Although the current facility, which has been in use since 1937, can handle six million passengers per year, the new airport will be able to process over double this figure.
Airport Technology reported that when it opens later this decade, Kastelli International Airport will have an annual capacity of 15 million passengers per year.
What’s more, the airport will be the second largest in Greece and be a 25-minute drive from the island’s largest city, Heraklion.
The new runway at the airport will also be able to handle large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380. They added that the airport will feature a five-story terminal building and handle up to 65,000 passengers per day.
However, the new airport is not without an immense cost. According to reports, the total cost of developing it will be £422.09m (€500m). Of this, £151.95m (€180m) is coming from the state and a further £185.72m (€220m) is coming from the European Investment Bank.
Construction of the new airport has already started with groundwork beginning in early 2020.
The Sun reported that the airport was facing some issues after 35 archaeological sites were found where the airport is intended to be built.
In a statement following their discovery Lina Mendoni, the Greek Culture Minister and an archaeologist, said they would be able to build the airport and preserve the findings.
She said: “We all understand the value and importance of cultural heritage … as well as the growth potential. It’s possible to go ahead with the airport while granting the antiquities the protection they merit.”