Kastelli Airport project moves past another legal obstacle

The appeal was filed by the Municipality of Minoa Pediada, local residents and organisations, and challenged decisions by the Ministries of Culture and Infrastructure and Transport allowing the installation of the radar and associated infrastructure in the area. The case was heard by the Council of State in March 2026.

At the centre of the dispute is the significant Minoan monument discovered at the top of Papoura Hill during works associated with the construction of the airport. The appellants argued that installing the air navigation systems in close proximity to the archaeological site would affect the monument and its surrounding environment, and called for alternative locations to be considered.

The decision by the country’s highest administrative court now removes a critical legal obstacle to the installation of the systems, which are a necessary prerequisite for the airport’s certification and operational launch. The relevant contract for the air navigation systems was signed in August and provides for an implementation period of 27 months.

The development is particularly significant for the Kastelli project’s timetable. At the beginning of 2026, construction progress stood at 67%, while more recent figures put it at approximately 76%. The official target is for the new airport to commence full-scale operations in November 2028.