The Heraklion International Airport is one of the major contributors to the tourism of Crete. This is because it serves as the one of the portals where visitors can enter the island. In line with this, the airport has brought in quite a number of tourists over the years, since its first operations started.
Accommodating only small planes at first, the Heraklion International Airport started out as a small airport in the year 1937. It is located ten kilometers to the east of the Palace of Knossos. Although the airport lacked in almost all the basic conveniences during that time, it is another matter altogether now. With the new building for the airport constructed in 1971, the parking space of the airport is ample enough to facilitate and accommodate 15 large airplanes, with a second parking area available for light planes. As such, it is assured that the great number of tourists that flock to the island every year and contribute to the tourism of Crete will be accommodated.