According to the Basic Regulation (EU) 2018/1139, all airports serving commercial flights with a runway length exceeding 800 meters must comply with EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) certification standards.
The goal is to harmonize airport infrastructure and operational procedures, ensuring uniform compliance with safety regulations across member states and alignment with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) standards.
Out of the 25 airports managed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), ten must be certified by EASA, as per the current regulatory framework. These airports include Heraklion, Alexandroupolis, Syros, Milos, Ioannina, Kythira, Sitia, Chios, Karapathos, and Lemnos.
Over the past 12 months, the CAA and the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) have worked systematically and methodically to complete the certification process. The airports have been gradually certified as follows:
- January 24, 2025: Heraklion, Alexandroupolis
- January 31, 2025: Syros, Milos, Ioannina
- February 14, 2025: Kythira, Sitia, Chios
- February 28, 2025: Karapathos, Lemnos
For the final two airports, close cooperation also took place with the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) as they are jointly used with the military.
