Air navigation contract an important milestone for new Heraklion airport

On 7th August a contract was signed on the site of the Heraklion International Airport at Kastelli for the provision, installation and commissioning of the air navigation systems for the new airport.

The contract was signed between the concession company “International Airport of Heraklion, Crete” and a consortium consisting of the Spanish technology group Indra Sistemas S.A. and the Greek engineering consultancy ATESE S.A.

The signing took place in the presence of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Dimas, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Nikos Tachiaos, the General Secretary for Infrastructure Dimitris Anagnopoulos and the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority Giorgos Vagenas.

A line of officials in blue tabards and white hard hats standing facing camera.
Among those present at the signing were the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Dimas (third from left), the General Secretary for Infrastructure Dimitris Anagnopoulos (behind him in the centre), and the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Nikos Tachiaos (right in yellow tabard). Photo: Ministry Press Office.

The contract constitutes a decisive step in the completion of the new international airport. Its duration is 27 months from the date of signature, while the total cost amounts to €105,219,189.40 including 24% VAT. Following the signing of the contract, those present made statements for the benefit of the Press as follows.

Minister of Infrastructure and Transport
Mr Dimas stated: “A few months ago, in the presence of the Prime Minister, we had signed the Air Navigation Agreement and we then undertook to ensure that the tendering and signature of the agreement for the new airport at Kastelli would proceed as quickly as possible.

“Today we are signing this agreement, which will ensure that the new Heraklion airport will be equipped with up-to-date systems of communication, navigation, observation and management of air traffic, fully harmonised with the models of ICAO [International Civil Aviation Organization] EASA [European Aviation Safety Agency], SES and EUROCONTROL In this way we are making sure that the new airport will be fully operational on completion of the construction stage, which is already 76% finished.

“I want to emphasis that there has been a very great effort by everyone from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the management of the Civil Aviation Authority and the management of the International Airport of Heraklion, Crete, as well as by MPs, the Regional Governor and mayors, to ensure coordination between us and to solve any issues arising as quickly as possible, so as to stick to the schedule. The aim remains the same – the airport at Kastelli will be in operation from November 2028.”

Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport
Mr Tachiaos added: “We all agree that Crete is the flagship of Greek tourism. Following the concession agreement for Chania airport it is clear that Crete and Heraklion deserve to have an airport worthy of its role. And this is exactly the airport which is being built today at Kastelli.

“The image which we see today exists because the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis updated and certified the project’s specifications, at the same time proceeding with vital additional measures. A typical example is the tunnel on the access road, which was constructed at a particularly fast pace, and which was included in the plan by the present government.

“As the Minister said earlier, in 2028 Crete will have a modern international airport worthy of the island’s development potential and the needs of Heraklion.”

General Secretary for Infrastructure
Mr Anagnopoulos said: “The signature of the contract for the air navigation systems is a decisive step in the completion and commercial readiness of the new Heraklion International Airport at Kastelli. They are critical pieces of infrastructure which are directly connected with the uninterrupted functioning of the airport and require a high level of technical expertise and strict observance of timetables. With today’s development, we are proceeding to another important milestone of a project which is of strategic importance for Crete and for the country’s developmental prospects as a whole.”

The control tower of the airport is covered in scaffolding, a hillside seen through heat haze in the distance.
The signing of a €105 million contract for the supply of air navigation equipment is a significant milestone for the new airport, which is 76% completed and is due to open in November 2028. Photo: Ministry Press Office.

Director of the Civil Aviation Authority
Mr Vagenas said: “Today’s signing of the contract signals the beginning of the installation of the Air Navigation Equipment, necessary for the operation of the new International Airport of Heraklion, Crete, at Kastelli. The overall configuration of this equipment is governed by the high safety standards imposed by international and European regulations.

“With a deadline for completion of 27 months we are fully ensuring the interests of the Government and the Civil Aviation Authority. At the same time we are sticking closely to the schedule for the start of operations of the new airport, a project of national importance and high priority for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority.”

Managing Director of Heraklion International Airport
The Managing Director of the International Airport of Heraklion, Crete, Ltd, Nikos Anastasios, noted: “Today a significant milestone is achieved , which brings us nearer to the start of the airport’s operation. It is a project which we believe will support the development of Crete for the next generations. We are convinced in particular that our close cooperation with Indra-ATESE will permit the timely implementation and successful completion of the particularly demanding schedule which we have before us.

“I would like to express our warmest thanks to the Ministry and especially to the Minister for his continuous support, as well as to all the teams which have been working hard for the achievement of today’s milestone.”

Also present at the signing were the MPs for Heraklion Lefteris Avgenakis, Konstantinos Kefalogiannis and Maximos Senetakis, the Regional Governor of Crete Stavros Arnautakis, and the Mayor of Minoa Pediada Vasilis Gegkeroglou.

Technical requirements
The Air Navigation equipment for the new international airport comprises systems for Control Tower communications and landing, navigation and surveillance systems, Tower and Approach Simulators and Runway Visual Range systems, and meteorological equipment.

Delivery of all the systems will include spares, software licences, tools, accessories and technical training manuals for both operational and technical personnel, as well as operations management services in accordance with the technical specifications and requirements of the operational systems.
(Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport press release, 07/08/26)