Chios airport closes four months for runway extension

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 09:57 · Archive

Chios Airport in Greece will close from November 15 to March 15, 2027 for a four-month runway upgrade.

Chios Airport on Chios, Greece's fifth-largest island, will close completely for four months from November 15, 2027 to March 15, 2027 for runway improvements. All flights will be suspended during the closure, according to the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority. The island has around 50,000 residents and will be cut off from direct air access to visitors during the shutdown.

The work will extend and upgrade the runway ahead of the following summer's tourist season. The current runway measures 1,511 metres, which is too short for wide-bodied aircraft. Once completed, it will measure 1,799 metres and accommodate much larger planes. At present the airport handles only smaller propeller planes and narrow-body aircraft.

Visitors to Chios, including British tourists, currently must fly to Athens or Thessaloniki before taking a connecting flight. Several UK airports, including Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh, offer flight packages to Chios with connections. Emergency flights, including medical evacuations and search and rescue operations, will be permitted to land during the works.

The closure schedule was brought forward from an original plan to close on January 15, 2027. Pantelis Legatos, president of the Chios chamber of commerce, said the earlier timing would 'seriously affect the economy and society of the island, especially during the holiday season' when people have planned trips, family visits and medical appointments. He noted that Chios, located five miles from Turkey, depends on air connections to the capital for health, entertainment and freedom reasons.

How it is being reported

• All flights suspended as popular Greek island airport to close for runway upgradeChios Airport on Chios, Greece’s fifth-biggest island, will be closing down for four months, with all flights suspended.Westmorland Gazette · 20 Oct, 09:29
• All flights suspended as popular Greek island airport to close for runway upgradeChios Airport on Chios, Greece’s fifth-biggest island, will be closing down for four months, with all flights suspended.Whitehaven News · 20 Oct, 09:29
• All flights suspended as popular Greek island airport to close for runway upgradeChios Airport on Chios, Greece’s fifth-biggest island, will be closing down for four months, with all flights suspended.NW Evening Mail · 20 Oct, 09:29
• All flights suspended as popular Greek island airport to close for runway upgradeChios Airport on Chios, Greece’s fifth-biggest island, will be closing down for four months, with all flights suspended.Cumberland News · 20 Oct, 09:29

In this story: Chios · Chios Airport · Greece · Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority · Pantelis Legatos · Athens · Thessaloniki · Turkey

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