Chios airport to suspend flights from November for runway upgrade

The State Airport of Chios Homer will temporarily suspend flight operations from the evening of 15 November 2026 until 15 March 2027, Euronews reported. The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority announced that the four-month closure of the runway is required to carry out infrastructure extensions and upgrades safely. [1]

The project involves extending the take-off and landing runway to the north and upgrading overall operational facilities at the site, Euronews said. Planning for the work accounts for the operational constraints of an airport with limited runway length. The authority aims to complete the full project by 28 February 2027 to boost overall flight safety. [1]

Chios is the fifth largest Greek island, located in the northern Aegean Sea and separated from the Anatolian mainland by the Chios Strait. Its capital, Chios town, sits on the eastern coast and is home to roughly 27,000 residents. The island is known for its exports of mastic gum, harvested in the southern Mastichochoria villages, which yields tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue. [3][6]

The temporary closure comes despite strong local opposition to the four-month suspension, according to Euronews. The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority stated that shutting runway operations remains necessary to execute the safety improvements. [1]