The Aerodrome

In September 1931 the government led by Eleftherios Venizelos officially announced its decision to build an aerodrome at a site known as Rousses, about three kilometers east of Heraklion (Anorthosis ["Restoration"] newspaper, 9^th September 1931). In statements made at the time, Minister of Aviation Alexandros Zanas stressed that foreign airlines such as KLM had a preference for "Heraklion as an air station, on account of tourism and the antiquities".

Construction work began in 1932, but was broken off the following year, mainly due to lack of funds. It recommenced in early 1937, and on 12^th March Heraklion aerodrome was handed over "for use". At 8:30 am on 19^th March, a Junkers Ju52 piloted by Ioannis Tsoukas was the first aircraft to touch down at the new aerodrome, in front of a crowd of dozens who had flocked from Heraklion to witness the event.

The Heraklion-Athens air route was officially inaugurated on 13^th April 1939 in the presence of Prefect Andreas Markellos and Mayor Minas Georgiadis. From August that year, scheduled flights carried passengers, mail and goods from Heraklion to Athens three times a week.