Τhe new state-of-the-art airport in Kastelli: an added value for Crete

Between 2016 and 2019, the old "N. Kazantzakis" airport in Heraklion witnessed a significant traffic increase, rising from 6 to 8.2 million travellers, surpassing even the most optimistic forecasts and denoting Crete’s value as a tourist destination. The airport served a network of 100 airlines and 160 destinations in Europe, Asia and Africa. The new international airport is now being constructed to bring Crete additional value.
 
In addition, Kastelli will is expected to be the only airport to be constructed in the SouthEastern Mediterranean region for the next twenty years. Crete may therefore be rendered an essential regional hub amidst Asia, Europe and Africa.
 
These factors raise the bar of expectations for the new international airport's shareholders of the concession - Greek state (45.9%), TERNA (32.46%) and GMR Airports Limited (21.64%) - that have undertaken its operation and aspire to render it the most modern in Greece. TERNA S.A. has undertaken the airport’s construction.

A long-life viable airport
 

The COVID-19 pandemic led air traffic to a sharp decline and created viability issues for many airlines and airports. No evil, pure good, however. The fact that the pandemic coincided with the construction initiation led to a strategic reassessment of several critical factors, aiming to ensure the new airport’s long-term viability and commercial success, taking into account both the new circumstances and any other otherwise unpredictable condition.
 
To address a series of challenges, such as the gap between summer and winter seasons’ traffic, versatility and adaptability of airport facilities and other resources have been set as a priority.
 
In addition, the design of the airport, the first airport in the country featuring check-in islands in lieu of conventional linear ones and three individual ramps between the terminal building and passenger boarding bridges, will provide certain flexibility which, along with ATMs, will help obtain a necessary social distance between passengers in times of health crises.
 
Reduced energy consumption and a minimal carbon footprint is a strategic decision for the new airport. This direction will be supported by the terminal building’s LEED certification, water recycling, re-planting deforested areas, solar energy usage, providing charging stations for electric vehicles, counting on electric mobility and sorting waste at the source.
 
Above all, the new airport considers regional urban and spatial planning a critical priority to support, expand, and preserve sustainability, commerciality, continuity, competitiveness, respect for the area and stakeholders, and achieve the airport community's smooth integration into the wider community. Only when every strategic decision for any new airport is taken following interaction with local inhabitants, the region and the stakeholders, as well as a knowledge of how the locals live; only when it integrates connectivity, mobility, transport and public utility issues in its vision of upgrading the standard of living and quality of life in the area, it can truly become an integral part of the broader community in which it operates.

 

A major investment in “the Large Island”, namely Crete

This is a one-off investment in the history of the island. The agreement also includes the operation, maintenance, and operation of the new airport and the project's design, construction, and financing. The budget also covers road projects to connect the new airport with NRAC (aka ΒΟΑΚ, Northern Road Axis of Crete) and SRAC (aka NOAK, Southern Road Axis of Crete).
 
Under the design, the new airport will be constructed in ​​a 6,000-acre area and feature a 3.2 km runway, expandable to 3.8 km.
 
B747 and A330 aircraft will land on the runway. The new airport will be the first in Greece with an MARS system (Multiple Apron Ramp System) and two passenger boarding bridges for greater flexibility and efficiency in managing boarding/disembarking gates. Therefore, Code D/E aircraft per the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) classification will be accommodated.
 

A major State asset, new revenue streams for local administration

Holding a 45.9% stake in the share capital of this critical investment for Crete, the State acquires a new, major asset. At the end of the concession, lasting 37 years, five of which are required for construction, the international airport will be entirely rendered to the State.
 
Moreover, 2% of the airport’s revenues following concession is handed to local administration authorities and other public benefit actions.
 

Current and future employment

During the complete unfolding of the construction works, 2,000 labourers are estimated to be employed on the project, and 180 scientists are estimated to supervise and coordinate construction works.

Later, during its operation, as an Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) report estimates, the new Kastelli International Airport will create 7,000 to 7,500 direct jobs (in the Airport Company, airlines, handling companies, service providers, etc.). Based on the same data, 35,000 to 37,000 indirect jobs will be stimulated through the growth dynamics that the airport will bestow on the tourism and trade industries.
 

Respecting age-old olive trees and local character

Trees of significant environmental and cultural value are specially taken care of as part of the New International Airport of Heraklion re-planting programme, which runs along with works for the new international airport. Together with the Minoa Pediada Municipality, under the Decentralised Administration of Crete’s (the island’s state body for forests and the environment), trees are re-planted to specific landmarks at Heraklion city and the Minoa municipality, while others are preserved to be planted at an accessible common space of the international airport.