Airlines at Heraklion Airport

Heraklion International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER) is served by dozens of airlines, from Greek carriers running year-round domestic routes to the low-cost and charter airlines that pour into Crete every summer. Between them they connect the island with more than 120 destinations. Here is who flies from HER and how the network works.

Which airlines fly to Heraklion Airport?

The biggest operator is Aegean Airlines, which holds roughly 40% of the traffic and dominates the domestic trunk routes, above all to Athens. Its subsidiary Olympic Air and the independent Sky Express also fly domestic and regional routes, while Bluebird Airways is a Heraklion-based carrier. Together these give Crete strong year-round links within Greece.

Low-cost and international airlines

On the international side, the low-cost giants Ryanair and easyJet together carry around 30% of passengers, joined by Wizz Air and others. Add the summer charter and leisure airlines — the likes of TUI, Jet2, Condor and Eurowings — and HER connects directly to a wide spread of European cities in season.

Domestic vs international

Domestic flights (to Athens, Thessaloniki and the islands) run all year and are the backbone in winter. International flights are heavily seasonal, building through spring to a summer peak and thinning out again for winter, when many routes pause until the next season.

Where can you fly from Heraklion?

HER offers non-stop flights to over 120 destinations across around 30 countries. Germany is the largest international market, followed by the UK and France, with strong demand from Poland, the Netherlands and much of northern Europe. For the current routes and live times, use the live flight board and the destinations guide.

Booking tips

• Book summer flights early — peak-season demand to Crete is high.
• For winter travel, expect mainly domestic routes via Athens.
• Compare a direct charter with a connection through Athens for smaller cities.
• Check baggage rules per airline — low-cost fares often exclude checked bags.

Frequently asked questions

Which airlines fly to Heraklion?
Aegean (the largest), Olympic Air, Sky Express and Bluebird for Greek routes, plus Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air and summer charters like TUI, Jet2 and Condor.

How many destinations does HER serve?
More than 120 non-stop destinations across around 30 countries, mostly in summer.

Are there year-round flights?
Yes, chiefly domestic routes to Athens and other Greek cities; international routes are seasonal.

Which is the busiest route?
The domestic link to Athens, dominated by Aegean and Sky Express.