Getting to Crete often involves taking a flight, whether from abroad or via Athens. Knowing the ins and outs of flights to Crete can help you snag a good deal and a convenient journey. In this guide, we’ll cover which airlines fly to Crete and from where, the best times and strategies to book flights, and some insider tips for finding cheap flights to Crete. We’ll also touch on the two main airports (Heraklion and Chania) from a flight perspective and seasonal considerations.
'Crete 001' - Attribution: Pat NearyCrete is well-connected by air, especially during the tourist season (April–October):
Domestic flights (within Greece):
Crete is just a short hop from Athens. Both Aegean Airlines (and its subsidiary Olympic Air) and Sky Express operate frequent flights from Athens to Heraklion and Chania year-round. Flight time is about 50 minutes. There are also some flights from Thessaloniki to Heraklion/Chania, typically daily in summer (Aegean/Olympic, Sky Express).
International flights:
During summer, dozens of charter and low-cost carriers fly direct to Crete from across Europe.
Heraklion (HER) gets a huge number of charters from the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Russia, Israel, etc. Airlines include British Airways (seasonal from London), easyJet (from various UK and European cities), Ryanair (multiple routes, e.g. London, Charleroi, etc.), Jet2, TUI, Condor, Eurowings, Transavia (from France, the Netherlands), Norwegian, Scandinavian Airlines, and Wizz Air (recently starting routes from Eastern Europe), while Sky Express also operates some international flights, for example, to Larnaca.
Chania (CHQ) also gets many flights: notably a Ryanair hub (Ryanair has made Chania a base, offering flights from Italy, Germany, the UK, Poland, etc.), easyJet flies to Chania from London and Manchester, Jet2 operates UK charters, Scandinavian carriers (such as Apollo and SAS) offer services, and there are flights by Austrian Airlines/Lauda, among others. British Airways even has a direct London–Chania flight in summer.
Sitia (JSH) has very few international flights, but in recent years they had a weekly or so from Prague or a charter flight from Austria – not mainstream. Focus on Heraklion/Chania for international routes.
Seasonality:
International flights ramp up from late March or April (around Easter) and run through October. July–August see the maximum frequency. In winter (Nov–Mar), almost all flights to Crete are via Athens except for a handful of year-round international ones (for example, Ryanair has attempted year-round services from some places – e.g. maybe Chania to Paphos or Heraklion to Italy occasionally – so do check schedules as they change).
'Empty Airport Terminal' - Attribution: mikecoghAthens to Crete:
Flights are very frequent – almost hourly at peak times. (Aegean might have 6–7 per day each to Heraklion and Chania; Sky Express about 3–4; so combined, there is almost one flight every hour.)
International:
Most major European cities have at least 1–2 weekly flights to either Heraklion or Chania in summer.
If you’re visiting the west (Chania, Rethymno), flying to Chania is closer. If you are visiting the east/centre (Heraklion, Hersonissos, Ag. Nikolaos), Heraklion Airport is ideal. But if flight options are better to the other one, don’t fret – the drive between Heraklion and Chania is 2.5 hours. Sometimes people see cheaper flights to one airport but their hotel is near the other; you can still do it, just account for a transfer. There are even some flights that operate an open-jaw (for example, arriving at Heraklion and departing from Chania), which could be a strategy if touring the whole island.
'Heraklion Departures' - Attribution: mikecoghBudget carriers
Like easyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, and Norwegian allow booking directly and are often cheapest when booked early (or sometimes in last-minute sales if not full). They often charge extra for luggage, seat selection, etc. But you can find deals like London to Heraklion for £50 if you catch a sale or book in the off-peak period.
Charter flights
They are often part of package holidays (flight plus hotel), but companies such as TUI or Jet2 now also sell flight-only tickets. These can be competitive in price, especially if you book a few months out or catch a late unsold seat.
'plakias_day6 088a' - Attribution: KsushichFull-service airlines like British Airways, Lufthansa, and Aegean might have higher base fares but include baggage. Aegean often has sales in winter for summer flights (e.g. 20–30% off if booked by Feb).
Newer Direct Routes:
Keep an eye out; each year new direct routes appear as tourism grows. For instance, there are now direct routes from Heraklion to Paris Orly by Transavia, or from Chania to Manchester by easyJet. According to FlightConnections, Heraklion has about 41 airlines flying direct and Chania 24 airlines, which shows the variety.
Advance booking:
Generally, for peak season (July–August), booking well in advance (3–6 months) is wise. According to travel experts, the cheapest fares for summer tend to be found in the preceding winter or early spring. For example, easyJet and Jet2 release summer schedules around Sep/Oct of the previous year – those initial release prices can be relatively low. Many Brits, for instance, book in January for summer to take advantage of New Year sales.
Shoulder season deals:
If you can travel in May, early June, or September, flights are often much cheaper and still plenty available even a couple of months out. For instance, a May flight might cost half of what an August flight does.
Flexibility:
Being flexible with dates can save money. Mid-week flights (Tuesday, Wednesday) are often cheaper than Friday or Sunday, which are peak travel days.
Watch for sales:
Airlines like Aegean often have spring sales (e.g. “20% off flights to Crete for travel between June and October” – announced via newsletters and social media). Also, British Airways and others sometimes have late summer sales in July for September/October travel.
Charter late deals:
If you’re booking last-minute (within a month of travel) and packages haven’t sold out, you might find a flight-only offer on TUI or from other package providers. For example, a half-empty package plane might offload seats cheaply a week or two before departure.
Comparison and alerts:
Use comparison sites to see who flies your route. FlightConnections or Google Flights can show all airlines from your city to Crete. If options are few, check via Athens as an alternative. Setting up price alerts on these platforms can notify you of drops or deals.
Sometimes, especially in the off-season or from cities with no direct flight, going via Athens is necessary. Aegean/Olympic and Sky Express offer connecting fares (they will transfer your luggage). For example, from Rome in March there might be no direct flight to Crete, but you can fly Rome → Athens → Heraklion easily. Booking as one ticket ensures that, if the first flight delays, you will be rebooked automatically.
Cost:
Domestic Athens–Crete flights can be as low as £50 one way if booked early, but may cost £100+ if booked at the last minute in summer. Combined with an international flight, compare the deals you get. Aegean often offers multi-flight discounts when booked together.
'Travel Cash' - Attribution: Dennis S. HurdAlso consider a ferry after Athens if you prefer an overnight boat experience.
Many direct European flights to Crete operate only 1–2 times weekly (since they cater to 7- or 14-night package stays). So, check which days are available. If you’re booking separate flights, ensure those times align with your planned schedule, or you might have to shift your travel by a day. For example, maybe flights from Glasgow to Heraklion only run on Mondays. If that doesn’t suit, see if Glasgow to Chania is available on another day, or consider departing from another airport (Edinburgh).
Also consider flying to a different island or Athens and then taking a short flight or ferry to Crete. Some travellers do a visit to Santorini first and then take a ferry or short flight to Crete, as Santorini gets many flights too.
Cheapest origin cities:
Historically, London, Berlin, and other big hubs offer competitive fares due to the number of airlines. Also, Eastern European charters (Polish, Czech, etc.) sometimes provide good deals through travel agencies.
The so‐called Tuesday rule (the idea that airfares are cheapest on Tuesdays around 8 weeks out) should be taken with a grain of salt, but off-peak times for booking can sometimes yield slightly better deals.
'money' - Attribution: Mario A. P.Insider Tips for Cheap Flights
Book separate legs (with caution):
Sometimes a two-stop itinerary can be cheaper if self-assembled. For instance, you might find a cheap flight from your city to Athens on one airline and a separate inexpensive Athens to Chania flight on Sky Express. Summed together, it may be less expensive than a direct flight. However, be aware of the risk: if a delay causes you to miss the connection, you might lose that fare. Allowing a significant buffer or even an overnight stay in Athens can be safer.
Use local low-cost carriers:
Often, big sites overlook smaller airlines. For example, Sky Express might not appear on all international booking sites, but checking their own website could reveal a good fare from, say, Rome to Heraklion via Athens that other search engines didn’t highlight.
Shoulder/off-season travel:
Visiting Crete in April, May, or October can yield much cheaper flights (and accommodation), while still enjoying pleasant weather (although April may be mild and October could have some rain, it is often still very enjoyable). I have flown in October from Germany for under €100 return when August fares were around €300.
Avoiding check-in baggage:
If you can pack carry-on only, you save significantly on low-cost flights. For a week in summer in Crete, a cabin bag and a personal item might suffice.
Airports:
Consider nearby alternative airports. If you live near several, check them all. For example, if you’re in the UK, flights from Manchester or Gatwick might offer different deals.
Early morning flights:
The first flights of the day are sometimes a bit cheaper and are less prone to cascading delays. For example, an early easyJet flight at 6 am might cost less than a later one.
Sign up for airline newsletters:
They often announce flash sales or promo codes. For instance, easyJet has offered spring promotions or Aegean might advertise “this weekend only, 30% off all domestic flights”.
Travel agents:
While many people book online, local travel agents sometimes have access to charter allocations that they sell at a discount as flight-only offers close to departure. It might be worth a call if you’re booking last-minute in summer.
Consider a multi-city itinerary:
If you want to see more of Greece, you can sometimes book an inbound flight to Crete and an outbound flight from Athens (or vice versa) for little extra cost (an open-jaw ticket). For example: Fly into Chania, then after Crete take a ferry to Santorini and fly from Santorini back home. This saves backtracking and sometimes booking a multi-city itinerary on one airline is as cost-effective as a round-trip.
Peak travel days:
Try to avoid weekend flights in late July or early August if you are trying to save money – everyone is flying then. If you can travel in early July or mid- to late August, you might find slightly better fares. And, ironically, mid-August (around the 15th, a public holiday in Greece) sees a surge in domestic travel between islands, so flights from Athens to Crete around 13–17 August tend to book up early. Book those months well in advance if you must travel then.
No direct flights to Crete exist from North America, but some airlines like Air Canada Rouge have operated a combined route from Toronto to Athens to Heraklion during the summer. Otherwise, you will likely have to connect in Europe or Athens.
Tip: Look for flights on European carriers that allow a free stopover at their hub. For example, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul to Heraklion sometimes offers good fares and allows you to spend a day in Istanbul. Alternatively, Swiss via Zurich may be an option.
Another tactic: Some tour providers (like Air Transat or TUI Belgium) might offer flights from Montreal or similar cities to Paris and then a direct flight to Heraklion – a long shot, but worth researching if you find package deals that allow separate booking.
Avoid booking flights that land on major Greek holidays around midday because that’s when airports can be extremely busy – for example, the Friday before Orthodox Easter when many travellers head to Crete or other islands. If possible, travel slightly off-peak (in April, early June, or September) for less crowded airports and better fares.
If you have frequent flyer miles or credit card points, note that Aegean is in Star Alliance – so you can use United or Lufthansa miles to fly to Crete via Europe. British Airways and others allow the use of Avios to travel to Athens and then possibly pay in cash for a domestic leg. Some seasonal flights (like BA to Chania) can be booked with Avios – often a good deal if cash prices are high and availability is good.
Summing up
Crete is well-served by flights from many places, especially in summer. Plan early, compare your options, and remain flexible if you can.
Consider flying mid-week and during shoulder months for savings.
Keep an eye on newsletters and fare alerts – a drop in price can save you hundreds, leaving more of your budget for enjoying the island (for example, that extra seafood dinner in Chania’s harbour or buying Cretan wine to bring home)!
Safe and savvy flying, and soon you’ll be descending over Crete’s mountains and turquoise waters, ready to begin your adventure.