The Heraklion Port Authority S.A. (OLH S.A.) and Heraklion International Airport of Crete S.A. (DAHK S.A.) signed a Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, laying the foundations for a systematic and meaningful partnership between two infrastructures of key importance to Crete.

The Memorandum was signed by the CEO of OLH S.A., Mr Minas Papadakis, and the CEO of DAHK S.A., Mr Nikos Anastasiou.

The cooperation focuses on making the most of the complementary role of the port and the airport, with the aim of strengthening connections between air and sea transport, further developing cruise tourism and homeporting, and creating new opportunities for the tourism and development potential of Heraklion and Crete.

At the same time, the cooperation framework creates the conditions for joint initiatives, the exchange of expertise, a coordinated presence in international markets and events, and the exploration of broader synergies in transport, the supply chain and freight flows.

The CEO of DAHK, Mr Nikos Anastasiou, stated:

“The new airport and the Port of Heraklion will be the key players in Crete’s development over the coming decades. The synergies that can be created in the cruise sector, as well as in the supply chain, will have multiple benefits for the local community and development. Improving the overall traveller experience by offering combined services, as well as making it easier for exporters and importers to move products quickly and safely through the use of combined transport, must be our common goal.”

The CEO of OLH S.A., Mr Minas Papadakis, stated:

“The next day for Heraklion requires us to stop viewing the port and the airport as two separate infrastructures and start treating them as two complementary gateways within a single, modern transport and tourism ecosystem. Our strategic ambition is clear: to strengthen Heraklion’s position as a leading cruise and homeporting hub in the Eastern Mediterranean and, at the same time, to create the conditions for new synergies that will increase Crete’s connectivity, international outlook and competitiveness. This Memorandum is not simply a cooperation agreement; it is the starting point for jointly planning the next day in the destination’s connectivity.”

The signing of the Memorandum reflects the shared strategic view of the two organisations that closer links between Heraklion’s main gateways can significantly strengthen the destination’s competitiveness and international reach.

Through this new cooperation, OLH S.A. and DAHK S.A. are creating a stable framework for coordination and joint action, with the aim of generating added value for Heraklion, Crete and the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.