Heraklion Municipality is seeking a solution to the ownership status of “Nikos Kazantzakis” airport, with an eye to what comes next after its relocation.
At a time when major infrastructure projects are moving ahead on the island, the first 10 kilometres of the new Northern Crete Road Axis (BOAK), on the Neapoli–Agios Nikolaos section, were opened to traffic yesterday. A short while later, a memorandum of cooperation was signed at the site of the new airport at Kastelli, with the aim of developing research and innovation infrastructure.
Of the three projects, construction of the new airport at Kastelli is the furthest advanced, with more than 75% of the work completed, while BOAK still has a long way to go before its completion in 2030.
By contrast, the question of who exactly owns the site of Nikos Kazantzakis airport remains unresolved.
Making use of the existing airport
A few days ago, mayor Alexis Kalokairinos presented to the municipal council the legal and technical research conducted over a period of 2.5 years into the ownership status of Heraklion airport.
The aim is to resolve the differences between the central government and the Municipality over plans for the airport’s future use. The Municipality’s evidence supporting its co-ownership claim has been submitted to the government, with a view to securing recognition of the public sector’s co-ownership as well.
Municipal sources expect a meeting with the central government to take place in the coming period, with the ministries of Finance and Infrastructure and Transport participating, as all sides agree that the issue needs to be resolved swiftly.
With construction of the new airport progressing rapidly and operations due to begin in November 2028, the time available to resolve complex legal issues is running short.
Municipal sources say its proposals include plans for mixed use of the site, combining residential development with new green spaces.
Heraklion Municipality in Crete is formally seeking a 32.4% co-ownership stake in “Nikos Kazantzakis” airport, equivalent to 562 stremmas of the total area.
Handover of the first 10 kilometres
Meanwhile, the AKTOR group handed over the first 10 kilometres of BOAK to the Greek state yesterday. This is the first section of the new motorway in Crete to be handed over, following repeated delays. The section had initially been scheduled to open in late summer.
The next target is to complete the remaining 4.5 kilometres, bringing the entire 14.5-kilometre Neapoli–Agios Nikolaos route into full operation. The budget for this project is €190 million, while investment in the entire BOAK is about €2.5 billion.
Memorandum to develop research infrastructure
Also yesterday, during a visit to Crete by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Dimas, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed with Nikos Anastasiou, chief executive of New International Airport of Heraklion Crete (DAIK S.A.), to develop research and innovation infrastructure (Umbrella Sandbox) at the new airport.
The agreement provides for the creation of a Multisectoral Regulatory Sandbox, based at the new Heraklion Crete International Airport, with the aim of developing innovative applications in cooperation with bodies across the wider public sector.
Specifically, the initiative aims to create an organised environment in which new technologies and innovative applications can be tested and evaluated in real-world conditions, under the supervision of the competent regulatory authorities and in accordance with the applicable institutional framework.
Under the three-year memorandum, the parties will set up a working group and draw up a joint timetable for developing the Umbrella Sandbox.
“This will pave the way for the development of Greek technology products, which can be tested and evaluated using this infrastructure and drawing on real-world data from the new airport,” the minister said.