Chios Airport (JKH) will suspend all commercial flights from the evening of 15 November 2026 to 15 March 2027 while contractors extend the runway northward. The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the four-month closure on 15 October, citing the need to complete both phases of the upgrade works together to reduce overall disruption and have the airport fully ready for the 2027 summer season.
Emergency helicopter operations will continue throughout the closure period. All scheduled and charter flights will stop entirely.
Why the runway is being extended
Chios’s existing runway has length constraints that limit the aircraft types able to serve the island and require weight restrictions on some routes. The extension project, carried out by Fraport Greece, is part of a wider programme of upgrades at regional island airports that also includes temporary closures at seven other sites on a staggered schedule over the coming years. Authorities say combining both construction phases into a single uninterrupted period shortens the total duration of works and avoids a second partial closure later.
The closure runs through the winter months when passenger numbers are at their lowest, which the authorities see as the least disruptive window. That reasoning has not convinced local officials and businesses, who raised objections at the Chios municipal council meeting where the dates were announced. Their main concerns are medical travel (patients who travel to Athens for treatment rely on the air connection) and the broader economic impact on the island during the off-season.
Getting to Chios between November 2026 and March 2027
The primary alternative is the overnight ferry from Piraeus port in Athens, which takes approximately 7-8 hours on the direct sailing. The route is operated by Hellenic Seaways and Minoan Lines on a year-round schedule, though winter frequency is reduced compared to summer. Booking ahead is advisable, particularly around Greek public holidays and the Christmas period.
A second option is flying to Lesvos (approximately 30 minutes from Chios by ferry) or Samos, both of which remain open during this period, and continuing by sea.
If your plans include Chios this winter, we recommend checking ferry schedules on the OpenSeas or Ferryscanner booking platforms before finalising dates, and building in flexibility around weather cancellations, as the Aegean in winter can produce rough sea conditions that delay sailings.
For context on flying into the region more broadly, our Athens airport guide covers connections from the capital to the islands. Our guide to the best Greek islands can also help if you are weighing alternatives to Chios for a winter visit, and the best time to visit Greece covers what each season looks like across the country.
Chios airport is expected to reopen fully, with the extended runway operational, in time for the Easter and spring travel season in 2027.