Private jet to Heraklion

The capital of Crete is a working port city rather than a resort, and its airport carries most of the private traffic to Greece's largest island. Holiday groups land here for the villas and hotels of Elounda and the Mirabello Bay, families for a week on the north coast, and smaller groups for Knossos and the Archaeological Museum with its Minoan collection. Companies also bring incentive groups and conferences to the large hotels east of the city.

The airport lies only about 5 km east of the centre, so the car reaches the Venetian harbour in about 10 minutes, a rare advantage among Greek islands. The runway takes everything up to heavy jets, and the airport is listed as open around the clock. The difficulty in summer is the apron: from June to September stands for business jets are scarce, and on hot August afternoons heavy jets may have to limit their take-off weight. Crete is more than 250 km long, so for the west of the island we often suggest Chania instead. As a broker, we compare aircraft from operators across Europe and choose the airport by your address on the island.

Send us the dates, the group size and the address of the villa or hotel on Crete, and we propose the airport and the aircraft.

Why fly privately to Crete

Flight times to Crete

Times for a Citation CJ3 from the hub table below:

• Larnaca: 1:34 h, Rome: 2:19 h, Vienna: 2:42 h
• Milan Linate: 2:56 h, Nice: 2:59 h, Munich: 3:01 h, Zurich: 3:11 h
• Geneva: 3:17 h, Berlin: 3:25 h, Frankfurt: 3:26 h, Hamburg: 3:46 h
• Paris Le Bourget: 3:50 h, Brussels: 3:50 h, Amsterdam: 3:57 h
• Madrid: 4:05 h, London Farnborough: 4:17 h

Crete is one of the longer sectors in Europe from the north and west. A light jet from London or Madrid flies non-stop with up to four people and normal luggage, but with more passengers or a strong headwind the operator checks the load first; the Challenger 350 needs 3:54 h from Farnborough and has range to spare. From the Gulf a heavy jet is on the ground in about four hours.

Private jet prices to Heraklion

Prices cover the whole aircraft one way; handling, airport charges and passenger taxes are added in the quote. Flight times apply to the aircraft in the first price column.

From the European hubs

Larnaca is the nearest hub at 770 km and EUR 10,500 in a CJ3; London costs EUR 19,000. From Munich or Nice the Citation XLS+ costs EUR 19,500, about 30 % more than the light jet, and gives a taller cabin for a three-hour flight.

From Athens and other European cities

The Pilatus PC-24 in this table can use short runways and has a large baggage door; the Citation Latitude and Gulfstream G280 suit the longer sectors from Scandinavia:

Istanbul is outside Schengen, so passengers from there clear passport control and customs in Heraklion.

From the Gulf, Israel and New York

The 2,700 m runway takes heavy and long-range jets; on August afternoons the operator may limit fuel or baggage for the departure. A fuel stop is needed only by the Challenger 650 from New York:

To Chania for western Crete

For villas around Chania and Rethymno, or a heavy jet in August, Chania with its runway of about 3,350 m is often the better airport. Prices are close to those for Heraklion:

The fare reflects the flight time and a fixed charge for bringing the aircraft and its crew to the departure airport. Prices peak in July and August, while May, June and October cost less. Passenger taxes are set by each country: about EUR 420 per passenger for a jet departing France; EUR 100 per passenger on flights to or from Italy up to 1,500 km and EUR 200 beyond, so Rome at 1,307 km pays the lower rate and Milan at 1,748 km the higher one; EUR 12 per passenger leaving Austria. Germany and the UK charge departure taxes, the UK depending on aircraft weight and seats. Heraklion airport charges are added in the quote.

Business jet price per flight hour

Heavy Jets from EUR 8,300 / hour

Light Jets from EUR 3,200 / hour

Ultra Long Range Jets from EUR 12,000 / hour

Super Midsize Jets from EUR 6,300 / hour

Very Light Jets from EUR 2,500 / hour

Long Range Jets from EUR 9,800 / hour

Midsize Jets from EUR 4,500 / hour

Turboprops from EUR 2,000 / hour

Sample trips with all costs

What each passenger pays

The price covers the whole aircraft, so it is shared among everyone on board. Passenger taxes are charged per person on top:

Estimate online

For a quick estimate on your own route and date, the calculator sends a figure to your e-mail.

Nikos Kazantzakis airport and the other Cretan airports

Heraklion International Airport Nikos Kazantzakis (HER, LGIR) lies at Nea Alikarnassos, about 5 km east of the city centre, and is shared with the Hellenic Air Force. The main runway is about 2,700 m long and 45 m wide, with a second runway of about 1,570 m. It is one of the busiest airports in Greece in summer.

Handling is compulsory for private flights, and several handling agents work at the airport; customs and passport control are on site. The airport is listed as open around the clock, but non-scheduled departures between 23:00 and 06:00 may need special approval, so we confirm a late departure in writing. In summer the airport is slot-coordinated, and the flight has to keep close to the allotted time.

Chania, Sitia and the alternates

Distances in the table are straight-line from Heraklion. The road to Chania is about 138 km and takes about two hours:

Chania is a joint civil and military airfield. Prior permission is needed at least 48 hours ahead, and private aircraft must apply for a landing permit at least four working days before the flight, so a last-minute trip usually lands at Heraklion.

Which jet for the trip

Cabin height counts on a four-hour sector: you stand upright in a Citation Latitude or Challenger 350 (about 1.83 m), not in a CJ3 (about 1.45 m). The PC-24 takes about 2.6 m³ of baggage and the Latitude about 3.6 m³, enough for pushchairs and golf bags. For six or more people midsize jets are the usual choice on this route.

Not sure whether to land at Heraklion or Chania? Leave your number and a consultant will call to help you decide.

The year on Crete

The beach season runs from May to October; the airport works all year:

Aircraft for July and August should be booked several weeks ahead; May, June and September offer good weather and more choice.

From the airport across the island

Empty Legs to and from Crete

Because parking is so limited in summer, many jets take off without passengers soon after landing. This produces a steady flow of empty sectors from the island. Typical directions:

The operator chooses the date and time, so an Empty Leg works for a flexible trip. Mail the route and dates to empty-legs@jets.flights, and we reply when a sector matches.

Dogs and cats on the flight to Crete

Your pet stays in the cabin beside you, and the operator has to approve it before the booking. Crete applies the standard EU rules:

• Microchip implanted first, then the rabies vaccination, both recorded with the chip number.
• Rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel when it is the first one; the animal must be at least 12 weeks old.
• EU pet passport, or an animal health certificate from a government-authorised vet for pets coming from Great Britain.
• Five animals per traveller at most on a private trip.
• Crete, like the rest of Greece, asks for no tapeworm treatment.

The flight from northern Europe takes close to four hours, so give the dog a walk just before departure and bring water and a bowl for the cabin. In summer the apron gets very hot, and with animals on board we schedule an early morning departure.

Passports, permits and taxes

Before you leave

• A valid passport or ID card for each traveller, including children.
• Full names, dates of birth and document numbers, sent to us a day ahead.
• Exact address on Crete, so we choose Heraklion, Chania or Sitia.
• Number of suitcases, pushchairs and golf bags.
• The pet's passport or health certificate, with chip and rabies details.
• Preferred departure time on the return day, ideally early in summer.
• Company name and VAT number if the invoice goes to a business.

Booking a flight to Crete

1. Send the dates, departure airport, number of passengers, luggage and the address of the villa or hotel.
2. We choose Heraklion or Chania, request the slot and ask whether the aircraft can park; if not, it repositions and comes back.
3. We send 2-4 options with the price for the whole aircraft and any extra legs while you are on the island.
4. You sign and pay, and we confirm the handler, the car or helicopter and the catering.
5. Arrive at the airport 20-30 minutes before the planned departure. At Heraklion the car waits at the aircraft and reaches the city in about 10 minutes.

Our team

Charlotte McKinney

Commercial Director

charlotte.m@jets.flights

Henry Richter

Head of Aviation Department and Data Protection Officer

henry.r@jets.flights

Emma Miller

Director of Development

emma.m@jets.flights

Liam Bishop

Senior Aviation Consultant

liam.b@jets.flights

Oliver Davis

Aviation Consultant

oliver.d@jets.flights

Anna Laurent

Aviation Consultant

anna.l@jets.flights

Questions about private jets to Heraklion and Crete

• • How much does a private jet to Heraklion cost?

  • A Pilatus PC-24 from Athens costs from EUR 10,000 one way. A Citation CJ3 costs EUR 10,500 from Larnaca and EUR 14,000 from Vienna; from London it is EUR 19,000. All prices are for the whole aircraft.

• • How far is the airport from the city?

  • About 5 km, roughly 10 minutes by car to the harbour and the old town.

• • Heraklion or Chania?

  • Heraklion for the city, Knossos, Elounda and the east; Chania for the west and for heavy jets in August. The two are about two hours apart by road.

• • How long does it take from London to Crete?

  • About 4:17 h in a Citation CJ3 and 3:54 h in a Challenger 350 from Farnborough.

• • Can the aircraft stay on Crete during our holiday?

  • Rarely from June to September, as parking is scarce. The jet usually flies to Athens, Chania or home and comes back for the return.

• • Can we land late at night?

  • The airport is listed as open 24 hours, but non-scheduled flights between 23:00 and 06:00 may need special approval, so we confirm late times in writing.

• • Can a light jet fly non-stop from northern Europe?

  • Yes, with up to four people and normal luggage. With a full cabin or strong headwinds we recommend a midsize or super midsize jet.

• • Can my dog come along?

  • Yes. It flies in the cabin with an EU pet passport, a microchip and a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel. On a flight of close to four hours, bring water and a bowl.

• • Are there Empty Legs from Crete?

  • Yes, often in summer, because many jets leave the island empty after the drop-off. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights.

• • Can we fly on to Santorini?

  • Yes, about 40 minutes in a light jet or 45 minutes in a turboprop. Ground time on Santorini is short in summer, so we book both legs together.

• • When is it hardest to find an aircraft?

  • In July and August. Book several weeks ahead, or travel in May, June or September.