Named after the celebrated Cretan author Nikos Kazantzakis, this airport opened in March 1939 and has become Greece's second-busiest after Athens, carrying more than nine million passengers in 2024. Serving the city of Heraklion and central Crete, it is the main arrival point for popular resorts such as Malia, Hersonissos and Aghios Nikolaos. The site operates two asphalt runways, the longer measuring 2,714 metres.