Outrage on Chios over sudden four-month airport closure

Chios’ “Omiros” Airport will remain closed for four months, from mid-November to mid-March, for work to extend and reconstruct its runway. The closure has prompted strong reactions on the island, with the municipal authorities calling for an island-wide shutdown and a protest rally on Monday (19/10), while a protest in Athens is planned for Tuesday (20/10).

According to Politischios.gr, NOTAM B1561/26 has been issued, stipulating that runway 01/19 will close at midnight between Sunday, November 15, and Monday, November 16, 2026, Greek time. The closure is scheduled to end at midnight between Monday, March 15, and Tuesday, March 16, 2027.

The aeronautical notice lists the corresponding dates as November 15, 2026, and March 15, 2027, at 22:00, as the times are given in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

The NOTAM was issued after airlines were informed of the closure, a development relayed during an emergency meeting of Chios Municipal Council on Wednesday evening (14/10) through a message sent to the mobile phone of council chair Klearchos Chrysis.

During this period, no scheduled passenger flights will operate, with implications for residents’ travel, the local economy, tourism and the operation of the island’s educational and healthcare facilities.

Which flights will be permitted

The exemptions provided for in the NOTAM apply only to helicopters carrying out specific missions, which will be permitted to land and take off directly from the aircraft parking apron, subject to 60 minutes’ prior notice.

Specifically, the following are permitted:

• Medical flights and patient air evacuations;
• State flights;
• Flights in unusual or emergency situations;
• Humanitarian missions;
• Search and rescue operations; and
• Firefighting flights.

No exemption is provided for fixed-wing aircraft, even for medical missions. Consequently, medical evacuations from the airport will depend on the availability of suitable helicopters and the prevailing operational conditions.

The scheduled expiry of the NOTAM does not, however, in itself guarantee that the airport will reopen. The notice specifies the period during which the closure applies, which may be amended or extended through a subsequent announcement.

Call for an island-wide shutdown on Chios on Monday

The four-month airport closure has prompted reactions on the island, with Chios Municipal Council unanimously deciding to organise protests during its emergency meeting on Wednesday (14/10).

Specifically, it decided to recommend that associations and trade unions hold an island-wide shutdown on Chios on Monday, October 19, and organise a protest rally at noon in Vounaki Square.

As part of the decision, ADEDY is being asked to provide the necessary union cover for public-sector employees to participate.

The Municipal Council is also proposing to the relevant primary and secondary education bodies, the Chios secondary school teachers’ union (ELME) and the Primary School and Kindergarten Teachers’ Association that schools close that day so that teachers and pupils can attend the rally.

For Chios municipal employees, a work stoppage was agreed for Monday, from 10:00 until the end of their shift.

Protest in Athens and consideration of legal action

The protests will continue on Tuesday, October 20, with a protest in Athens, attended by representatives of Chios’ institutions.

The aim is to highlight the consequences of the months-long suspension of air connections and call for the construction timetable to be reconsidered.

The Municipal Council also decided to examine the possibility of pursuing all available legal remedies against the decision to close the airport, and to issue a formal protest resolution addressed to the relevant government officials and institutional representatives.

The unanimous decision followed statements by the mayor, the leaders of the council groups, representatives of business and civic organisations, and a representative of the contractor.

The council also took into account a written submission from Giannis Karavasilis, leader of the “Chios Brosta” council group, a statement by PASOK MP for Chios Stavros Michailidis, and a letter from the University of the Aegean.