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Total 1 airports of LGIR

HER Heraklion International Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis Airport)
Heraklion International Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis Airport) (IATA: HER, ICAO:LGIR) is located in the the city of Heraklion, Greece. It is the primary international airport serving Heraklion and its surrounding metropolitan area. Phone Number :+302810-397800

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IATA Code

HER

ICAO Code

LGIR

Name

Heraklion International Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis Airport)

Type

Main Airport

Country / Region

Greece (GR)

City

Heraklion

Latitude

35.3397200

Longitude

25.1803000

Time Zone

UTC+02:00

Phone Number

+302810-397800

Est. Unit Price

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Airport Overview

Heraklion International Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis Airport) (HER), ICAO LGIR, is the principal airport serving Heraklion and the wider island of Crete, Greece. It is located near Nea Alikarnassos, approximately 5 km from central Heraklion, and operates as a shared civil and military facility. For international freight forwarders, the airport is primarily a regional gateway supporting tourism-related supply chains, island replenishment and time-sensitive shipments. Our service team can coordinate air cargo planning, mainland or European gateway connections, customs documentation and final-mile delivery, subject to available handling capacity and confirmed operating schedules.

Airport	Heraklion International Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis Airport)
Location	Heraklion, Greece; Crete
IATA / ICAO	HER / LGIR
Coordinates	35.3397200, 25.1803000
Local time	UTC+02:00; daylight-saving arrangements may apply
Airport contact	+30 2810 397800

Key Highlights

Island gatewayCrete's main air gateway connects local importers, resorts, distributors and time-sensitive supply chains with mainland and international networks.

Seasonal operating profileTourism peaks can increase passenger baggage, ramp activity and belly-hold demand; capacity and acceptance times should be reconfirmed for each shipment.

Civil and military environmentOperational procedures, access controls and handling arrangements may be more restrictive than at a dedicated cargo airport.

Limited cargo predictabilityFreighter availability, cargo terminal resources and direct uplift options must be checked shipment by shipment rather than assumed from passenger connectivity.

Alternative planning requiredFor urgent, oversized or capacity-sensitive cargo, our team can compare direct uplift with mainland Greece or other European gateway routings.

Cargo Facilities & Services

Heraklion International Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis Airport) is not presented here as a dedicated cargo hub. Cargo acceptance, storage, screening and release are dependent on the appointed ground handler, operating carrier, shipment profile and available infrastructure at the time of booking.

General cargo: Standard air freight may be accepted through airline or handling-agent cargo processes, subject to confirmed booking, security screening and handling cut-offs.
Customs-controlled handling: Import, export and transit cargo normally requires customs-compliant documentation and release coordination before delivery or collection. The exact procedure must be confirmed with the handling agent and Greek customs.
Temperature-sensitive shipments: Pharmaceutical, biological, seafood and other chilled cargo should be pre-alerted with packaging specifications, temperature range and requested handling service. Do not assume permanent cold-chain storage.
Dangerous goods: Acceptance depends on airline approval, handling capability, packaging, labels, shipper's declaration and applicable IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. Pre-acceptance is essential.
Special cargo: Live animals, valuables, perishables, oversized pieces and cargo requiring controlled access may require advance confirmation or routing through a more specialized gateway.

Operational boundary: Warehouse opening hours, screening equipment, bonded-storage arrangements, ULD capability and special-cargo acceptance should be obtained from the confirmed airline or ground handler before cargo is dispatched to the airport.

Routes & Transit Times

Mainland connection: Shipments may be routed through Athens or another approved Greek gateway when direct uplift from Crete is unavailable. The final routing depends on airline schedules, allotments, transfer rules and cargo acceptance.
European connectivity: Seasonal passenger services and interline arrangements may provide access to European destinations, but belly capacity and frequencies can change with the operating season.
Consolidation strategy: For small consignments, our service team can evaluate consolidation through a mainland or European hub; this may improve network choice but can add transfer and customs coordination steps.
Transit planning: Quoted transit time must include booking confirmation, airport acceptance, security screening, transfer connection, customs release and local delivery. No fixed transit promise should be made before the routing is confirmed.

For cargo with a delivery deadline, our team checks the actual operating date, carrier acceptance status, connection protection, transfer liability and contingency routing before issuing a transport plan.

Hinterland & Key Cargo

Primary service area: Heraklion, Nea Alikarnassos and central and eastern Crete, with onward distribution to destinations such as Agios Nikolaos, Malia, Hersonissos, Stalida and Elounda subject to road delivery conditions.
Tourism supply chain: Hotel operating supplies, replacement parts, retail replenishment, restaurant provisions and urgent maintenance items are common time-sensitive requirements during the high season.
Perishables: Fresh agricultural products, seafood and other temperature-sensitive goods may require seasonal uplift, short airport dwell time and pre-arranged local delivery.
General commercial cargo: Spare parts, industrial components, consumer goods, apparel, electronics and e-commerce consignments may move through passenger-belly or connecting services.
Local delivery: Resort destinations can involve narrow delivery windows, restricted vehicle access and seasonal congestion; consignee details and unloading arrangements should be confirmed in advance.

Operations & Compliance

Cut-off control: Airline and handling-agent cargo cut-offs can vary by flight, season, cargo type and screening requirement. Our team obtains the confirmed acceptance deadline rather than relying on a generic airport timetable.
Documentation: The commercial invoice, packing list, air waybill data, export or import declarations, permits and consignee tax or customs information must be consistent. Commodity descriptions should be specific and non-generic.
Regulated cargo: Dangerous goods, lithium batteries, medicines, food, animal products, live animals and dual-use goods may require additional declarations, permits or carrier approval before booking.
Customs and inspection: Customs examination, documentary queries or security re-screening can delay release. Cargo should not be sent to the airport until the booking and documentation status are confirmed.
Collection and delivery: The consignee or appointed trucker should carry the required release references and identification. Delivery timing may be affected by resort access, local traffic and the handling agent's release process.

Shipping Tips

Send the commercial invoice, packing list, dimensions, gross weight, commodity description and requested delivery date to our service team before requesting space.
For perishables or temperature-sensitive cargo, specify the temperature range, packaging method, coolant or gel-pack details and maximum acceptable airport dwell time; arrange the receiving vehicle before uplift.
For dangerous goods or lithium-battery shipments, provide the correct UN classification and packaging information early. Do not tender cargo until airline acceptance and document approval are confirmed.
Use robust, stackable packaging with clear piece markings and consignee contact details. Oversized, fragile, valuable or irregular cargo should be pre-advised with photographs and handling instructions.
Where direct capacity is tight, ask our team to compare mainland-Greece, European-hub and sea-air alternatives, including customs transfer responsibilities and the additional handling risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Heraklion International Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis Airport) handle international air freight?

International cargo may be possible through the operating airline and appointed handling agent, but acceptance is shipment- and schedule-dependent. Our service team confirms the actual routing, cargo acceptance status, customs process and cut-off before dispatch.

Is direct cargo capacity available throughout the year?

Capacity can vary substantially by season, carrier and destination. Passenger-belly capacity may be more relevant than scheduled freighter service, and direct uplift should never be assumed from passenger-route information alone.

How should urgent hotel or resort supplies be planned?

Provide the required delivery date, consignee opening hours, piece dimensions and road destination as early as possible. Our team checks the earliest workable uplift and arranges a delivery plan that accounts for customs release and local access restrictions.

Can temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals or perishables be shipped through this airport?

They may be accepted when the carrier and handling agent approve the shipment and suitable packaging is used. Confirm available handling, storage and transfer arrangements in advance; do not rely on unverified airport-wide cold-chain capability.

What is the best alternative when capacity or special handling is unavailable?

Our team can compare a mainland Greece or European gateway connection, road-sea combination or other multimodal option. The decision should consider customs status, transfer time, special-cargo acceptance and final delivery requirements.

Data Sources & Provenance

Airport identifiers, name, location, coordinates, telephone number and time-zone information in this module are based on the supplied airport master data for Heraklion International Airport (Nikos Kazantzakis Airport). Operational details such as airline acceptance, cargo cut-offs, handling capacity, customs release arrangements and special-cargo availability are variable and must be verified for the specific shipment.

For regulatory and industry-level verification, our service team refers to the relevant authorities and standards, including the hcaa.gov.gr, the aade.gr and the iata.org. These domains are provided as authority references; they do not replace confirmation from the operating carrier, appointed ground handler or customs office for a live booking.

Verification boundary: No unverified cargo-terminal area, throughput figure, warehouse schedule, airline frequency, guaranteed transit time or special-cargo certification is stated.