Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and a very popular vacation destination. Between April and September many airlines offer direct flights from European cities into Crete, and among them , some flights are operated by low-cost carriers.

Crete is a lovely destination for families, and couples alike. You can explore the historical sites, spend time on the beach, spend an active holiday or just come here to relax and refresh.

Budget airlines that fly to Crete

The island of Greece is served by three airports:

• Nikos Kazantzakis Airport , located in Heraklion , which handles domestic flights and flights from European cities
• Chania International Airport , located in Chania and much smaller than the one in Heraklion, which also handles domestic flights and flights from European cities. It has become a Ryanair hub recently.
• Sitia Airport, located in Sitia, which mostly handles domestic flights but also has some international flights from Germany.

The following European low-cost carriers fly into Crete:

• Jet2.com – Heraklion
• EasyJet – Heraklion, Chania
• Rynair – Chania
• Germanwings – Heraklion
• TUIFly – Heraklion
• FlyNikki (semi low-cost) – Chania, Heraklion
• Norwegian – Chania, Heraklion
• Transavia France – Heraklion
• Smart Wings – Chania, Heraklion

How to fly budget airlines to Crete

When booking with a low-cost carrier, please make sure to take a good look at the possible hidden costs. Some airlines are good at highlighting the extras – so you can avoid them – while others are downright confusing. So , pay attention to the fees related to the method of payment, travel insurance (you may want or not) , priority boarding and luggage.

In general, you can find the best fares directly on the airlines’ websites. Low cost airlines are listed by some large booking sites but it’s close to impossible to book them through travel agents / travel agencies.