A strategic meeting was held between Mr Minas Papadakis, Chief Executive Officer of Heraklion Port Authority S.A., and Mr Nikos Anastasiou, Chief Executive Officer of Heraklion International Airport of Crete S.A., focusing on strengthening Heraklion’s position as a competitive cruise homeport in the Mediterranean.
The meeting highlighted the complementary role of the Port of Heraklion and the new international airport as integrated gateways for cruise operations and high value tourism. Particular emphasis was placed on air connectivity, operational reliability and the overall functional capacity of the infrastructures, which are key factors influencing cruise lines’ strategic decisions.
Discussions also focused on enhancing coordination between port and airport at both strategic and operational level, with the objective of delivering a reliable, efficient and competitive homeporting product. Improving the overall cruise passenger experience, from airport arrival to embarkation at the port, was identified as a key priority.
The meeting confirmed a shared strategic direction between the administrations of the two organizations, aiming at close and continuous cooperation aligned with the needs of the global cruise industry and the competitive positioning of Heraklion as an integrated transport hub.
This initiative forms part of a broader strategy to position Heraklion as a modern, reliable and operationally mature cruise homeport, capable of supporting long-term partnerships with leading international cruise lines.
