Direct flights to Heraklion from the UK
In summer, Heraklion has direct flights from a long list of UK airports, including London (Gatwick, Stansted, Luton), Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow, mostly operated by Jet2, easyJet, Ryanair and TUI. The flight takes around four hours. In winter the choice shrinks to a handful of routes or none, and the usual path is via Athens.
Flights to Heraklion from the US and Canada
There are no scheduled non-stop flights from North America to Heraklion. The common routes are via Athens (then a 50-minute domestic hop with Aegean or Sky Express) or via a European hub such as London, Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam or Paris with a direct summer connection. Consider booking the whole trip on one ticket so a delay on the first leg is the airline’s problem, not yours.
When to book flights to Heraklion
Prices jump for school holidays (late July, August) and Greek Easter. Late May, June and September give the best balance of weather and fares. Our article on airlines and direct routes to Heraklion lists the routes by country, and if your accommodation is in western Crete, compare with Chania in Chania or Heraklion airport.
Summer evening arrivals are often delayed by slot restrictions. Book a transfer that tracks your flight rather than relying on the last bus.