| Kastelli Καστέλλι |
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| Location | |
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Kastelli
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| Coordinates | |
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Location within the regional unit
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| Government | |
| Country: | Greece |
| Region: | Crete |
| Regional unit: | Heraklion |
| Municipality: | Minoa Pediada |
| Population statistics (as of 2001) | |
| Municipal unit | |
| - Population: | 6,819 |
| Other | |
| Time zone: | EET/EEST (UTC+2/3) |
Kastelli (Greek: Καστέλλι, also Καστέλι) is a village and a former municipality in the Heraklion regional unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Minoa Pediada, of which it is a municipal unit.[1] Population 6,819 (2001 census).
It is planned that a replacement for Heraklion International Airport, "Nikos Kazantzakis" will be situated on the south western side of the Hellenic Air Force Base of Kastelli, from which the Air Force currently operates Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighters. The idea was first launched in 1986 by then Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou. The proposal has officially entered the implementation phase, and tenders have been invited. The new airport will become operational in 2014. The existing airport in Heraklion will be closed and the area of 278 hectares (687 acres) will be returned to local communities for a large urban regeneration plan.
The creation of the new airport will require new roads, water and sanitation projects, including the transfer of the settlements located within the proposed runway (Archangelos, Roussochoria). The construction of a 17 km road will connect the airport with the National Road along the north coast of Crete, in the neighbourhood of Chersonissos. When finished, the distance from the city of Iraklio to the new airport will be approximately 40 kilometers. Complaints have been filed for lack of a new road linking the new airport to the south coast of Crete.
The new airport will be constructed over an area of 600 hectares (1482 acres), adjacent to the current military airport in Kastelli. It will have a runway of 3800 meters to accommodate larger aircraft than can presently be operated into Heraklion International Airport, "Nikos Kazantzakis". An additional area of 22 hectares (54 acres) is reserved for commercial activity south-west of the new airport. This is a very large project with a budget of 1.2€ billion for construction costs alone, and together with purchase costs including loans and other expenses, will reach 1.5€ billion.[2]
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