Heraklion Airport in Crete has been named Europe’s worst airport by travellers, but one writer who recently flew in and out of it is struggling to see why
Heraklion Airport is located in Crete, Greece and has been dubbed a “miserable airport”(Image: Boarding1Now via Getty Images)
After taking a jaunt to Crete, flying in and out of Heraklion Airport, Isobel Pankhurst was quite taken aback to find it’s been dubbed Europe’s worst airport by travellers.
Dive into the online world of Google reviews and you’ll encounter a barrage of scathing critiques, particularly from those braving the peak summer rush. In the Express, reporter Isobel Pankhurst noted her own visit was in June was outside of school holiday mayhem, which might explain the slightly more bearable experience.
Yet even so, one recent visitor venturing there in May didn’t mince words, stating: “Worst airport on the planet… extremely rude staff. Nowhere nearly enough seats for the vast amount of passengers. Very stuffy and dirty airport. Staff laugh at you instead of doing their job correctly.”
And just last week, another weary traveller lamented: “This airport makes Greece feel like a 4th world country. I have been to over 100 airports in myself.
Isobel visited the airport in June outside of peak summer season and school holidays(Image: Getty)
“Never have I encountered such a chaotic and frankly deficient cluster of staff anywhere. I’d elect to walk or swim rather than endure the ordeal of travelling through this airport once more. Those at the helm of this facility ought to be incarcerated; it’s criminal the way this airport operates.”
Yet another dissatisfied tourist said: “Most miserable airport I’ve seen in my life. We had a delayed flight last year and it was the worst experience of my life.”
Despite its modest size, Isobel found Heraklion Airport to be more than adequate. The check-in and security processes were swift, with the only brief delay being a discussion among staff about whether she needed to pay for extra hand luggage – fortunately, she was exempt from the additional fee.
After clearing security, Isobel explored the duty-free shops and picked up a few items for her family and herself. Although the airport’s shopping and dining options are limited, she managed to grab a bite to eat before her flight.
Contrary to some reviewers’ claims of terrible food, Isobel found it to be satisfactory – after all, one doesn’t typically expect gourmet cuisine at a small airport.
In her opinion, Heraklion Airport is far from the worst she has experienced – that distinction belongs to Marrakesh Airport in Morocco, where she encountered lengthy queues just to enter and exit the building.
Isobel admitted Heraklion Airport is far from the worst she has experienced(Image: Getty)
On the plus side, she enjoyed the ocean views while waiting to board, and the boarding process itself was fairly standard for an international flight.
Admittedly, Heraklion Airport is showing its age, having first opened in the 1930s and undergone its last major renovation in 1972. Those expecting a sleek, modern facility like Singapore Changi Airport will likely be disappointed.
However, Isobel wouldn’t go so far as to say that the airport’s management deserves to be “in prison”, as one reviewer suggested.
Whilst she found the airport gets more stick than it deserves, Isobel would probably steer clear of flying in and out during the peak summer season, given its size might not be quite up to scratch for the throngs of summer holidaymakers.