The work will take four months and see the airport shut over the festive period with local authorities and business owners urging the for the dates of the work to be changed
Chios Airport will be shut for four months for the upgrade
A Greek airport will close for four months as major runway upgrades are completed.
Chios Island National Airport in Greece will close between November 15, 2026 and March 15, 2027 for the work to take place.
The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority say the project will extend the runway to 1,799 metres to accommodate larger aircraft ahead of the 2027 tourist season.
The work will see all commercial flights canceled. Emergency operations, including medical evacuations and search and rescue flights, however, will continue using helicopters operating from the parking apron.
As well as extending the runway to the north, the upgrades will also see an overall improvement of the airport’s operational infrastructure.
Originally the work was expected to take five months but it is now scheduled to only take four.
The plans have been strongly objected to by local authorities and business leaders, who see the winter closure as ‘economic strangulation’ for the small island.
They have come up with an alternative timeline that allows the airport to remain open during the Christmas and New Year Holiday.
The mayor of Chios, Giannis Malafis, said it was crucial the island’s airport remained open during the festive period.
He insisted that any decision on the future of the project should be taken in consultation with local bodies and Chios society.
Island representatives are still seeking clear answers on the duration of the shutdown and how this is expected to impact the local economy.
The contractor has pledged to make every effort to speed up the works, with the aim of getting the project done by 28 February.
However, this does not make any difference to the holiday season that is creating concerns for locals.
The HCAA notes that its goal is to limit the runway closure to the shortest possible period.