Crete is Greece’s largest island, roughly 260 km (160 miles) from end to end, so the airport you fly into matters. The island has two main international airports: Heraklion (HER) in the center-north and Chania (CHQ) in the west.
Quick facts
- Flight time from the UK: about 4 to 4 hours 45 minutes, depending on your departure airport.
- Time difference: Greece is 2 hours ahead of the UK.
- Season: direct UK flights are mainly seasonal, from spring to autumn.
- Currency: euro (EUR).
- Mobile data: EU visitors can usually roam at home prices, but many UK mobile plans now charge a daily fee in Greece. Check your plan before you go, or buy a local data eSIM in advance, for example a Greece eSIM from Airalo (affiliate link).
Heraklion or Chania?
| Heraklion (HER) | Chania (CHQ) | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Next to Heraklion city, center-north coast | Akrotiri peninsula, around 15 km from Chania town |
| Best for | Heraklion, Knossos, Hersonissos, Malia, Agios Nikolaos, Elounda | Chania, Platanias, Kissamos, Balos, Falassarna, the south-west |
| Size | Crete’s busiest airport, the most routes | Smaller, strong low-cost and charter network |
Rethymno sits roughly between the two, so compare flights to both airports if that’s your base.
Which UK airlines fly to Crete?
Based on published schedules checked on October 8, 2026:
- Jet2 flies to Heraklion from many UK bases and to Chania from several, and added extra summer 2026 flights.
- easyJet and TUI serve both Heraklion and Chania.
- Ryanair focuses mainly on Chania.
Jet2’s Winter 2026/27 program does not include Greece. Expect few or no direct UK flights to Crete in the depths of winter.
Flying to Crete in winter
Out of season, the usual route is to fly to Athens and connect to Heraklion or Chania on a domestic flight (Aegean Airlines and Sky Express operate domestic routes). Overnight ferries from Piraeus to Heraklion and Chania are another option. Many resort hotels close in winter, while the cities stay open year-round.
Booking tips
- Search both airports. If you plan to hire a car, a cheaper flight to the “other” airport can be worth the drive.
- Book school-holiday dates early. Summer flights from regional UK airports can fill up.
- Consider open-jaw: fly into Chania and out of Heraklion to see more of the island without backtracking.
Search flights to Heraklion
Each button opens our flight search with the route pre-filled for one adult. Pick your dates and number of travelers, then compare airlines and booking sites. “London” covers all London airports.
- ✈ Check flights: London → Heraklion
- ✈ Check flights: Manchester → Heraklion
- ✈ Check flights: Birmingham → Heraklion
- ✈ Check flights: Edinburgh → Heraklion
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Prefer the west? Search London–Chania, Manchester–Chania or Birmingham–Chania.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay in Crete: the best bases for your trip
- Flights to Athens from the UK: airlines, airports and year-round options
- Flights to Rhodes from the UK: airlines, season and airport guide
- Flights to Corfu from the UK: airlines, season and transfers
- Where to stay in Santorini: Fira, Oia, Imerovigli or the beaches?
How we research: this guide is based on official sources and published airline and transport schedules, not on a sponsored visit. Information was checked on October 8, 2026. Schedules, routes and prices change, so confirm with the airline, operator or venue before you travel.
Sources
- Fraport Greece (operator of Chania airport): chq-airport.gr
- Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (operator of Heraklion airport): ypa.gr
- Jet2 Winter 26/27 and summer 2026 program announcements: jet2plc.com
- Airline websites: jet2.com, easyjet.com, tui.co.uk, ryanair.com, aegeanair.com, skyexpress.gr
Featured image: Jet2 Boeing 737 at Heraklion “Nikos Kazantzakis” International Airport. Photo: Oyoyoy, October 21, 2016, via Wikimedia Commons (G-JZHB Heraklion 21-10-2016.jpg), CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and compressed.
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