Location Heraklion, Greece
Client Heraklion International Airport S.A.
Services Construction Management, Project Management, Project Monitoring
Project Value $563 Million
Hill International is providing Independent Engineering services for the development of the new Heraklion International Airport, Crete at Kastelli Pediados. Located on an approximately 1,500-acre site to the southeast of Crete’s administrative capital, Heraklion, the hub will feature a 93,000 SM LEED certified terminal, a 3.2 KM Code E runway, a parallel and 8 connecting taxiways, 58 mixed stands (up to 6 code E and 39 code C commercial stands), 11 auxiliary buildings (including a 44 m height Control Tower), three major infrastructure complexes (fuel farm, sewage treatment plant, and waste management facilities) and a 725,000 SM commercial zone. Supporting works include a 24 km highway network and Crete’s longest twin tunnel, extending 2.75 km per tube, as well as sewage treatment, rainwater drainage, and flood protection works for the whole Kastelli area.
The main Terminal provides 76 check-in counters (including 10 self-baggage drop off points), 8 C3 security screening lanes, 19 boarding gates (with the use of 10 passenger boarding bridges) and 7 baggage reclaim belts (to be increased to 9 when required).
Ranked as the second-busiest airport in the country, new Heraklion airport is designed to serve up to 15 million annual passengers, 10 in its opening year.
As Independent Engineer, Hill is approving the project’s design and supervising all construction activities to help ensure compliance with the Concession Agreement, Environmental Sustainability terms, and global industry best practices. Hill’s services include approval and monitoring of project’s schedule; certifying payments; advising the Greek State, concessionaire, and contractor on technical matters; monitoring adherence to safety plans and quality procedures; monitoring adherence to environmental regulations and sustainability initiatives; and monitoring activities related to archaeological findings, as the airport is being built in the cluster of Minoan settlements and areas of ritual activity around the ancient palace complex of Knossos.
Hill is also responsible for certifying the completion of the project, supervising and monitoring the airport certification process per European Union Aviation Safety Agency requirements, and monitoring the Operational Readiness and Transfer Program (ORAT) to help ensure a seamless transfer from the old airport to the new facilities.
Hill has been a key contributor to the update and approval of the airport’s Master Plan. For example, Hill has helped the team increase terminal areas by 30% compared to the initial Master Plan and incorporate design features that respond to challenges in post-pandemic aviation. In this way, Hill is driving innovation at the most modern airport under construction in the Mediterranean.
