Crete to get new airport February 8, 2006 The Greek government has announced plans to build a new international airport in Crete within eight to ten years. Crete's current airport, Nikos Kazantzakis in Iraklion, has become overused during the peak holiday season and is situated near a built up area. With a proposed size of 70,000 square metres, the new airport will be almost twice as large as Nikos Kazantzakis and will be able to handle 5,000 holidaymakers a day. Greek ministers Mihalis Liapis and Manolis Kefaloyiannis unveiled the project last week, stressing that the new airport would promote Crete as an eastern Mediterranean hub. They also asserted that the project would boost the local economy. The new airport will be based in Kasteli near Iraklion in the north of the island. Costing a projected €1.1 billion, the development will be funded by both the government and private investors. Crete's airport already receives more international charter flights during peak season than any other Greek hub, according to Greek newspaper Kathimerini. Author : e-Kathimerini