Specifically, International Airport Heraklion Crete S.A. (IAHC) has launched an International Open Tender (Request for Proposals – RFP) for the design, supply, installation, integration, testing, and commissioning of Airport Air Navigation Equipment (AANE).
The tender is conducted within the framework of the Concession Agreement concluded between IAHC and the Hellenic Republic, which was ratified by Law 4612/2019, and relates to the operational continuity and replacement of the existing Heraklion State Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis.” The new airport, located in central Crete, will replace Greece’s second-busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic.
The scope of the tender includes the award to an experienced Contractor of the implementation of critical air navigation systems, including indicatively:
- Communication Systems
- Navigation and RVR Systems
- Surveillance Systems, MLAT and A-SMGCS
- Contingency Control Tower
- Control Tower Simulator
- Meteorological Systems
The works will be carried out both within the airport facilities (primarily at the Control Tower) and at remote locations across the wider region of Crete. The total estimated project budget amounts to approximately €75 million, while the maximum implementation period is set at 27.5 months.
The tender evaluation process will be conducted in three stages (eligibility review, technical evaluation, and financial evaluation), and proposal submission will take place electronically via the SAP Ariba platform. The language of the tender is Greek or English, with Greek prevailing in the event of discrepancies.
The new airport, which is scheduled to commence operations in 2028, is expected to constitute a landmark infrastructure project not only for Crete but also for the wider Eastern Mediterranean region, strengthening the island’s position as an international tourism and transport hub. According to estimates, it will be capable of handling more than double the number of flights compared to the current “Nikos Kazantzakis” Airport, generating significant multiplier benefits for both the local and national economy.