Chania International Airport
Chania International Airport is the main air gateway for western Crete, serving Souda and the wider Chania area on Greece’s north coast. Identified by IATA code CHQ and ICAO code LGSA, it is classified as a large airport and is a practical arrival point for travellers heading to beaches, mountain villages, ferry connections, and the Venetian old town of Chania. Because it operates on Europe/Athens time, schedules align with the rest of mainland Greece and the Greek islands, which is helpful when planning onward domestic travel.
About Chania International Airport
Chania International Airport is the main air gateway for western Crete, serving Souda and the wider Chania area on Greece’s north coast. Identified by IATA code CHQ and ICAO code LGSA, it is classified as a large airport and is a practical arrival point for travellers heading to beaches, mountain villages, ferry connections, and the Venetian old town of Chania. Because it operates on Europe/Athens time, schedules align with the rest of mainland Greece and the Greek islands, which is helpful when planning onward domestic travel.
Overview
Chania International Airport is the main air gateway for western Crete, serving Souda and the wider Chania area on Greece’s north coast. Identified by IATA code CHQ and ICAO code LGSA, it is classified as a large airport and is a practical arrival point for travellers heading to beaches, mountain villages, ferry connections, and the Venetian old town of Chania. Because it operates on Europe/Athens time, schedules align with the rest of mainland Greece and the Greek islands, which is helpful when planning onward domestic travel.
Airfield facts
- Airport codes: CHQ (IATA) and LGSA (ICAO)
- Airport type: large airport serving Souda, Greece
- Elevation: 490 ft (149 m) above sea level
- Runway: 11/29
- Runway length and surface: 10,982 ft, asphalt, and lighted
What travellers should know
For most visitors, the airport’s value is its convenience rather than complexity: it is close enough to make transfers to Chania and nearby resorts straightforward, yet large enough to handle regular seasonal traffic. The single long, lighted runway supports dependable operations for arriving and departing passenger aircraft, including busy summer services. If you are collecting a hire car, meeting a transfer, or connecting to accommodation in western Crete, it is worth allowing extra time in peak holiday periods, when flights can cluster around similar arrival windows.
Why it matters for your trip
Choosing Chania International Airport usually makes the most sense for travellers focused on western Crete, especially stays around Chania, Souda, beach resorts, and road trips into the island’s rugged interior. Its role as a regional gateway means you can land relatively near your final destination and spend less time crossing the island after arrival. For short breaks in particular, that can make a noticeable difference to how quickly your holiday begins.
Routes
Top routes from CHQ
No routes tracked from CHQ yet.
Nearby airports
Other airports in Greece
FAQ
Chania International Airport — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the details travellers usually check first, from codes and locations to the practical basics that help with planning.
8 common questions
- Chania International Airport is located in Chania, Greece (Europe), at coordinates 35.540°, 24.140°.
- Its IATA code is CHQ and its ICAO code is LGSA.
- Chania International Airport serves Chania, Greece. When comparing fares, check whether other airports also serve the same area — prices and transfer times can differ between them.
- Chania International Airport operates on Europe/Athens local time. Departure and arrival times on tickets are always shown in each airport's local time, so double-check the offset when planning connections or pick-ups.
- Chania International Airport sits at latitude 35.540° and longitude 24.140°. The map link in the details panel on this page opens the exact location for driving directions.
- Originfacts does not yet track scheduled routes from CHQ. Use the flight search on this page to see live airline options for your travel dates.
- Route coverage for CHQ is still being added to Originfacts. Run a search from CHQ on the flight search page to see every destination airlines currently sell for your dates.
- Yes — Originfacts lists 9 other airports in Greece. The nearby-airports section on this page links to each of them, which is useful when comparing fares or finding an alternative departure point.