⚠️ Reference data only, not for flight planning. Full notice →
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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Chania International Airport

Compiled by

Souda, Crete (Greece)
IATA: CHQ ICAO: LGSA
Longest Active Runway
10,982 ft
3,347 meters
Field Elevation
490 ft
149 m MSL
Runway Inventory
1 active
Lighted / Paved
Coordinates & Class
35.5312°, 24.1507°
LARGE AIRPORT
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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →
RunwayFacts Published Dataset
#390 of 650
In curated primary commercial index
Global Commercial Universe
#619 of 7558
Top 8.2% percentile worldwide
National Standing (Greece)
#3 of 5 in GR
#5 of 42 in full national registry
vs Large Airport Median
+9.8%
Compared to 10,000 ft baseline
💡 CHQ in numbers: 10,982 ft longest runway · #390 of 650 published · #619 of 7,558 worldwide (top 8.2%) · #3 in Greece.
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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Chania International Airport (CHQ)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Chania International Airport (Ioannis Daskalogiannis) occupies a strategic promontory overlooking Souda Bay on the island of Crete. Its 10,990 ft runway comfortably handles heavy European summer holiday charters alongside Greek military operations. Elevated 490 ft above sea level on an open coastal plateau, CHQ provides stable approaches over the Mediterranean Sea with full Category I precision guidance.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments
Single paved Runway 11/29 (10,990 ft / 3,350 m).
Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities
Established in 1954 on the Akrotiri peninsula, co-located with Souda Air Base. Upgraded with a modern civilian passenger terminal in 1996 and expanded further by Fraport Greece in 2018.
Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role
Primary western Crete tourism gateway, complementing Heraklion Nikos Kazantzakis (HER, 51 NM east).
Data Nuances & Operational Quirks
Joint military-civil facility hosting Hellenic Air Force 115th Combat Wing and NATO naval support installations; civil charters share runway slots with military fighter patrols.
📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Greece National Civil Aviation Authority · State Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) & ICAO Annex 14 Standards
Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft
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Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

CHQ lies at 149 m (490 ft), #278 of 650 published airports by elevation and 51.5 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 468 ft above the Greece median (22 ft, 5 airports) and the highest published airport in the country.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

0 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

No published neighbour with a paved runway of 5,000 ft or more within 100 NM of CHQ. Nearest published airport: Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH), 145 NM, 13,123 ft (2,141 ft longer than CHQ); 5 within 250 NM.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 10,982 ft (3,347 m)

CHQ runway: 11/29 10,982 × 148 ft asphalt (asp). National standing: #3 of 5 in Greece; ATH leads by 2,141 ft (13,123 ft). +9.8% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator Length (ft / m) Width (ft / m) Surface Material Lighting Status
11/29 10,982 ft (3347 m / 3.347 km) 148 ft (45m) Asphalt (ASP) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active

🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →