<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-center">History Heraklion International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">The airport first opened in March 1939. This was then merely a piece of flat agricultural land. The first aeroplane (a Junkers Ju 52) carried the first passengers to the site.</p>
<p class="blog-para">The During the Second World War, the airfield was the site of the Battle of Heraklion during the Battle of Crete in 1941. Civilian operations ceased, but in the autumn of 1946, traffic resumed with the introduction of the DC-3 aircraft.</p>
<p class="blog-para">At first, the airport only offered very basic service, with only primitive installations on the site in the form of three tents, smoke for wind determination, and storm lamps for runway lighting.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Find the most important information about Heraklion Airport: flights, departures, arrivals, parking, car rentals, hotels near the airport, and other information about Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" (HER). Plan your travel to HER Airport with the information provided in this guide.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" (IATA: HER, ICAO: LGIR) serves Heraklion and the municipalities of Aghios Nikolaos, Malia, Hersonissos, Stalida, and Elounda on the island of Crete, being its main international gateway along with Chania Airport.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Heraklion Airport is named after the well-known Greek writer and philosopher Nikos Kazantzakis, who was born in Heraklion. Heraklion Airport is located 5 kilometres east of Heraklion's city centre, nearby the town of Nea Alikarnassos. Heraklion International Airport is a hub for Bluebird Airways and Sky Express and a focus city for Aegean Airlines.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Heraklion International Airport "Nikos Kazantzakis" handled 7,933,558 passengers in 2019.</p>
<p class="blog-para">In 2020, Heraklion Airport registered only 2,398,264 passengers due to the coronavirus crisis.</p>
<p class="blog-para">During 2021, HER Airport handled a total of 5,046,236 passengers.</p>
<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-left">TRANSPORT Heraklion International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">The following means of transport are available at Heraklion Airport to get to the city centre:</p>
<p class="blog-para">Bus: Public transportation is available at Heraklion Airport.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Taxi: Get to downtown Heraklion within 15 minutes by taxi.</p>
<p class="blog-para">Car rental: Rent a car at Heraklion Airport or through our search engine.</p>
<p><img class="img-fluid p-lg-0 rounded w-100" title="Heraklion Airport" src="../../main/img/airport/henr/1.webp" alt="Heraklion Airport" width="950px" height="500px"></p>