Chios Airport is closing for up to four months, halting all flights from tomorrow until March and sparking fierce warnings of economic strangulation for the Greek island.
The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority said the extended closure allows for extensive construction to prepare Chios Airport for the summer 2027 tourist season. Workers will lengthen the current 1,511-metre runway to 1,799 metres while upgrading ground facilities. At its present length, the airstrip can accommodate only propeller-driven or narrow-body aircraft, forcing travellers from the United Kingdom to fly into Athens or Thessaloniki and board a connecting flight.
Once the runway expansion is complete, the airfield will finally be able to handle larger planes. The airport was originally scheduled to shut down on January 15; this timeline, while occurring months after the present schedule, would have avoided the holiday season but delayed the project until Easter.
Chios faces four-month airport closure as concerns grow over healthcare and 40 workers Chios is facing a four-month airport closure, with residents still awaiting clear answers on emergency medical transport and the future of around 40 airport workers. The airport is expected to…
The four-month shutdown spans Christmas and New Year. Local authorities pushed back against the timeline over fears for the community and economy on Greece’s fifth-biggest island, which has a population of about 50,000 residents. Authorities have called the closure ‘economic strangulation’ for its residents, noting that the absence of flights will restrict individuals with planned trips to and from the mainland or neighbouring islands.
The fastest ferry between the island and Athens takes seven hours, a stark contrast to the 50-minute flight. Holidaygoers in Europe face these additional travel disruptions as the airport suspends all operations for the four-month duration.
“Chios, as a border island 5 miles from Turkey, depends on the air connection with the capital for health, entertainment and freedom reasons,” said Pantelis Legatos, president of the Chios chamber of commerce.
Emergency flights, including medical evacuations and search-and-rescue operations, will still be permitted to land during the construction period.
