Indra to equip the New Heraklion International Airport in Crete with the Most Advanced Air Traffic Management Systems for €85 Million
The company is leading the consortium that will equip the future Heraklion Airport, one of the major infrastructure projects currently under development in Greece, with state-of-the-art technology to maximize its capacity and operational efficiency, enabling it to handle an expected 10 million passengers annually by 2030
Indra will supply tower and approach control systems, aircraft surface movement guidance and control systems, ADS-B surveillance, primary and secondary surveillance radars, voice and radio communication systems, navigation aids and cybersecurity solutions
The project reinforces Indra’s leadership in the modernisation of air traffic management in Europe, where it is the technology partner of the iTEC Collaboration, is renewing the United Kingdom’s and Germany’s national radar networks, and is developing the world’s first multi-airport remote tower centre in Finland
Following an international tender, International Airport of Heraklion Crete SA (IAHC), the company responsible for the new Heraklion International Airport in Crete, has awarded Indra, in consortium with the Greek company ATESE, the project to supply the surveillance, air navigation and air traffic management (ATM) systems for this new infrastructure, which will replace the current airport on the Greek island. Hellenic Aviation Service Provider (HASP), Greece’s air navigation service provider and the end user of the systems, participated in the evaluation and approval of Indra’s proposal.
Víctor Martínez, Executive Vice President of ATM at Indra Group, and Nikos Anastasiou, CEO at IAHC, signed the contract, worth €85 million, at a ceremony held in Crete in the presence of Greece’s Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Dimas.
The new airport, one of the most important transport infrastructure projects currently under development in Greece, is designed to strengthen Crete’s international connectivity, respond to growing demand, with passenger numbers expected to reach 10 million per year by 2030, and enhance the passenger experience.
Indra will be responsible for the supply, installation, integration and commissioning of a broad range of advanced systems that will ensure the safe, efficient and sustainable management of air operations at the new airport.
The company will deploy an integrated solution that includes tower and approach control systems, the Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS), primary and secondary surveillance radars, ADS-B surveillance, voice and radio communications, navigation aids, control tower technologies, cybersecurity solutions and other systems to support airport operations. The scope of the contract also includes system design, integration, installation, testing, training, commissioning and support.
Indra’s solutions have been designed to meet the most demanding European standards in air traffic management and navigation and are ready to incorporate the sector’s future operational and technological requirements, aligning with air traffic modernisation programmes in Europe.
“The new Heraklion International Airport will be a key infrastructure for Greece’s future and we are proud to contribute to its development with the most advanced air navigation and air traffic management solutions. Our commitment is to help our customers operate with the highest levels of safety, efficiency and sustainability, bringing to this project the experience Indra has gained in some of Europe’s most significant air traffic modernisation programmes,” said Víctor Martínez, Executive Vice President of ATM at Indra Group.
For his part, Nikos Anastasiou, CEO at IAHC, stated: “Today a major milestone is being achieved that bring us closer to the operation of the airport. An asset that we believe will support Crete’s growth for the decades to come. We feel very confident that working closely with Indra-ATESE will enable a timely deployment and successful ending of a very challenging schedule ahead. We would like to sincerely thank the Ministry and especially the Minister for his constant support, as well as All the teams working that hard to achieve today’s milestone”.
This contract consolidates Indra’s position as one of the world’s leading companies in air traffic management technologies and strengthens its presence in Greece, where the company has already supplied the Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems (A-SMGCS) for Athens and Thessaloniki international airports, which are currently in operation.
In addition, Indra contributes to the modernisation of air traffic management in Europe through strategic projects such as the renewal of the United Kingdom’s and Germany’s national radar networks and the deployment of the world’s first multi-airport remote tower centre in Finland. The company is also the technology partner of the iTEC Collaboration for the creation of a common air traffic management platform alongside the main air navigation service providers in Europe and Canada. Indra has successfully delivered critical projects with air navigation service providers around the world. With technology deployed in more than 300 control centres and a presence in more than 90% of daily flights, the company continues to reinforce its position as one of the global leaders in air traffic management. Its solutions already manage more than 33% of the world’s Flight Information Regions (FIRs) and help make aviation safer, more efficient, digital and sustainable.