Kasteli Airport Αεροδρόμιο Καστελίου | |||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||
Airport type | Military | ||||||||||
Operator | Hellenic Air Force | ||||||||||
Serves | Heraklion | ||||||||||
Location | Kasteli, Heraklion, Crete, Greece | ||||||||||
Built | 1940 | ||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 360 m / 1,180 ft | ||||||||||
Coordinates | 35°11′36.40″N 25°19′41.10″E / 35.1934444°N 25.3280833°E | ||||||||||
Website | www | ||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||
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Kasteli International Airport (ICAO: LGTL) — also known as the New International Airport of Heraklion, Crete[3] (Νέος Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Ηρακλείου Κρήτης) — is an international airport under construction on the Greek island of Crete. Located in Kasteli, 39 km (24 mi) southeast of Heraklion, this new airport will replace the existing Heraklion International Airport and is expected to open by 2027.[4] Kasteli Hellenic Air Force Base currently operates at this location as a military facility for the Hellenic Air Force, housing F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft from the 133 Combat Group.
Initially, the new airport will have the capacity to handle nine million local and international passengers per year, with a maximum handling capacity of 18 million passengers annually. The foundation laying ceremony for the project was held in February 2020, marking the official start of construction.[5] The Ariadne Airport Group consortium, which includes GEK Terna in partnership with the Indian GMR Group, is developing, and will operate and manage the new international airport on this site.[6] The airbase will continue to function adjacent to the new airport.[7]
The airport currently features a single operational runway measuring 2,991 m (9,813 ft). A 3,800 m (12,467 ft) runway, capable of handling commercial aircraft such as the Airbus A380, will be built 450 m parallel to the existing military runway.[8]