Chios Airport Closure in 2026: How to Get to the Island

Chios Airport will suspend operations for four months to allow for runway expansion. Find out when the closure will take place, how to reach the island and what to consider when planning your trip

Chios, Greece’s fifth-largest island, in the northern Aegean Sea, will be without flights this winter. The Independent, citing the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA), reports that Chios airport is set to close.

Flights will stop on the evening of 15 November 2026 and are due to resume on 15 March 2027.

If you were planning to spend Christmas on the island or visit relatives, you’ll need to change your route. Below, we explain what is known about the dates, why it is happening and how to get to Chios now.

Read also: Ryanair introduces new check-in rules from 10 November 2026.

Travel insurance covers the risks of a trip, from illness abroad to lost luggage or a cancelled journey. You can buy a policy online in a few minutes, and it is tailored to your needs. Enter your citizenship and destination country and choose a policy on Visit World.

What happens on 15 November, and how long will the break last?

The dates appeared in a Ministry of Transport document sent to airlines. It was made public on Wednesday evening at an emergency session of the Chios municipal council. The reason for the shutdown is that the authorities have merged two phases of the manoeuvring-area expansion. The runway will now be closed completely, which officials say is safer for construction crews and less dependent on the weather. The aim is to finish the work by 28 February 2027, according to Euronews.

The island will not be cut off entirely. While the work is under way, emergency flights, including medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, humanitarian and government flights, will be operated by helicopters taking off and landing directly on the apron.

We explain why air fares in Europe could rise sharply in 2027 in our earlier article.

What will Omiros Airport look like after the runway extension?

The project includes extending the runway to the north and modernising the airport’s infrastructure overall. Once finished, the runway will be 1,799 metres long, allowing the island to receive larger aircraft. HCAA says the upgrades are needed so that air service runs smoothly in the 2027 season and winter weather disrupts flights less.

Today the airport, named after Homer, with whom the island has a long-standing association, mainly handles domestic routes to and from Athens and Thessaloniki. It is served by Aegean Airlines, SKY express and Olympic Air. The flight from Athens takes about 45 minutes, and it is this convenient hop that Chios will lose for four months. Incidentally, the first restrictions on the airport’s operations began as early as spring 2026, when the multi-stage works got under way.

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Why are locals opposed, and what alternative is being proposed?

About 60,000 people live on the island, and for many of them a plane is not a leisure convenience but the way to reach a doctor in Athens. Pantelis Legatos, president of the Chios Chamber of Commerce, warns that the early start of the closure will hit the island’s economy and daily life hard right over Christmas and New Year, when people travel to see relatives and for medical check-ups. The local authorities have described the decision overall as economically strangling the island.

Initially, residents had expected a different schedule: the airport was to close on 15 January. Pantelis Vroulis, deputy governor of Chios, has proposed a compromise: keep the airport open over the holiday season and finish the works by Easter. Local organisations do not rule out protests, including shutting shops. They are also demanding that the government provide enough ferry sailings, help for patients, clear instructions for passengers who already hold tickets, and regular reports on progress.

Here is the ranking of Europe’s safest airlines in 2026, according to AirAdvisor.

Ferry from Piraeus to Chios: timetable, prices and journey time

For these four months, the sea route remains the only ordinary way to reach the island. Blue Star Ferries operates the ferry from Athens’ port of Piraeus. According to Ferryscanner, departure is usually in the evening, around 20:00, with arrival in the morning. The fastest sailing takes about seven hours, the average nearly eight. A seat costs between €40 and €49; a cabin will cost more.

In winter there are fewer vessels than in summer, and in bad weather sailings may be delayed. So book tickets in advance, and don’t plan anything important for the morning you arrive. Before booking, check the following:

- whether the dates of the airport shutdown have changed, on the airline’s website or HCAA’s;

- the current winter ferry timetable, closer to departure;

- the exchange or refund terms if a sailing is cancelled;

- whether to take a cabin rather than a seat if the journey is overnight.

Find out how much it costs to fly with a cat or dog in 2026 via the link.

Chios among the Greek islands in winter: is it worth going?

In the cold season the island is, above all, quiet. Some hotels and restaurants close until spring. Chios Town, the mastic villages of Pyrgi and Mesta, and the citrus estates of Kampos stay open, and there are no crowds anywhere. The island is famed for mastic, the resin of the mastic tree, and the tradition of harvesting it is on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.

The closure is temporary: in spring, once the runway is longer, direct flights are due to return. And if you are planning a trip to Greece for the winter, remember the main rule of the islands: allow extra time. You’ll need it for the ferry, for connections, and in case the weather has its own ideas.

Winter travel to the island involves several legs, and any of them can go wrong: the ferry may be delayed by wind, and your suitcase may travel by a different route. Visit World travel insurance covers illness, lost luggage or trip cancellation, and the range of risks depends on the programme. It is best to buy a policy before you leave and read carefully what the cover includes. Enter your citizenship and destination country on Visit World and choose a policy for your trip to Greece.

A reminder: the EU is preparing new rules on carry-on baggage that could significantly change the terms of flying with low-cost airlines. A standard ticket should include two pieces of cabin baggage at no extra charge, including a suitcase weighing up to 7 kg. We have already explained the new rules, when they will take effect and whom they will affect.

Photo: generated with Gemini

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