Chania Airport (CHQ) Live Arrivals & Departures

Time

Destination

Gate

Sunday 27 September

Monday 28 September

Airport guide

Chania Airport “Ioannis Daskalogiannis” (CHQ) sits on the Akrotiri peninsula, about 14 km north-east of Chania, on a plateau above Souda Bay that it shares with a Hellenic Air Force base. It is the second airport of Crete with around three million passengers a year, nearly all of them between April and October, and the gateway to western Crete: Chania’s Venetian harbour, the Platanias resort strip, the Samaria gorge and the beaches of Elafonisi and Balos.

Fraport Greece rebuilt the terminal in 2020–2021: one building, arrivals and departures on separate sides, with the bus stop, taxi rank and car park all within a short walk of the doors. The plateau catches the wind, and the drive down to Chania passes the Akrotiri monasteries and the Venizelos graves with the best view of the White Mountains on the island.

Transport

Chania is 14 km down the hill: a fixed €30 by taxi or €2.50 on the KTEL airport bus to the city bus station. Platanias and Agia Marina are about €42 by taxi; Rethymno an hour east, usually by pre-booked transfer.

Parking

The car park is in front of the terminal, from about €3 an hour or €10 a day, with room to spare outside August. Private car parks on the Akrotiri road are cheaper for a week and shuttle you to the door.

Car rental

The rental companies have desks in the terminal and cars on lots a short walk away. Western Crete is beach-and-gorge country reached by small roads, so nearly everyone rents for the whole stay; book early for July and August and ask about gravel roads before heading for Balos.

Local tips

The taxi tariffs here are genuinely fixed and printed on a board at the rank. If a driver quotes more than the board, point at it; the board wins.

The Akrotiri plateau is windy in a way Chania itself is not: on gusty days the approach is bumpy and afternoon flights sometimes hold. Check the live board on windy days before setting off.

Souda port is 15 minutes away and the overnight ferry to Piraeus leaves around 21:00: an afternoon arrival can connect, and the evening in Chania’s harbour first is the better plan.

The Agia Triada monastery is ten minutes from the terminal on the way down. With time to spare before a flight, it is a far better wait than the departures hall.

Scandinavian flights (Norwegian, SAS) leave in a late-afternoon bunch in summer; if yours is one of them, the security queue at 15:00 is the day’s longest. Arrive two and a half hours before.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Chania Airport from Chania?

About 14 km, down from the Akrotiri plateau. A taxi takes 25–30 minutes for a fixed €30; the KTEL airport bus takes 30–40 minutes to the central bus station for €2.50.

How much is a taxi from Chania Airport to Platanias?

A fixed €42 by day (Agia Marina €40), 40–45 minutes. The tariffs are posted at the rank; nights cost more. A pre-booked transfer is about the same and saves the Saturday queue.

Is there a bus from Chania Airport to the city?

Yes. The KTEL Chania–Rethymno airport bus leaves from outside the terminal roughly hourly, timed to the flights for the central bus station on Kydonias street, €2.50 paid to the driver. Coaches to Rethymno, Kissamos and the south coast leave from there.

How do I get from Chania Airport to Rethymno?

A taxi costs a fixed €95 and takes about an hour; a pre-booked transfer is similar. By bus, take the airport bus to the Chania station and a KTEL coach from there, about two hours in total.

How do I get from Chania Airport to Souda port?

Souda is 15–20 minutes away, a fixed €20 by taxi. The Piraeus ferry leaves in the evening, so an afternoon arrival connects comfortably.

Where can I park at Chania Airport?

In the open-air car park in front of the terminal, from about €3 an hour or €10 a day, first 10 minutes free. Private car parks on the Akrotiri road are cheaper by the week and offer shade, which the airport does not.

Can I wait outside the terminal to pick someone up?

Only briefly; the forecourt is kept clear in summer. Use the short-stay bays, where the first 10 minutes are free, and check the live arrivals board before the 25-minute drive up from Chania.

Which car rental companies are at Chania Airport?

Avis, Budget, Hertz, Sixt, Europcar and Enterprise have desks in the terminal, alongside many Cretan companies. The cars are on lots on the plateau, a short walk or minibus ride from the doors.

Can I drive a hire car to Balos or Elafonisi?

Elafonisi, yes: the road is paved all the way. Balos is reached by a rough gravel track that most contracts exclude; ask the company, rent a 4x4 from one that allows it, or take the boat from Kissamos.

How early should I arrive at Chania Airport?

Two hours on most days, two and a half for the summer afternoon wave of Scandinavian and British departures and for any non-Schengen flight (UK), which adds passport control.

How can I check live arrivals and departures at Chania Airport?

The boards on this site update automatically with scheduled and estimated times, gates, baggage belts and status. Open a flight for its details or subscribe to alerts for a flight number.

What should I do if my flight from Chania is delayed?

Check the estimated time on the departures board here and confirm with the airline. EU rules give you meals after two hours of delay and possibly compensation after three hours on arrival; keep receipts and boarding passes.