Transavia France to launch direct Paris-Heraklion flights for winter 2026-2027
Transavia France will operate a direct route between Paris Orly and Heraklion during the 2026-2027 winter flight schedule, offering up to four weekly frequencies. The airline added the connection as part of its winter programme, a move local tourism officials say supports Crete’s long-standing goal of achieving year-round, 12-month tourism.
The agreement was finalized in Paris during the IFTM Top Resa 2026 international trade fair, following contacts between the airline’s leadership and Andreas Fiorentinos, Secretary General of the Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT).
Local hospitality representatives describe the development as significant, since France remains one of the island’s most consistent source markets. Pepi Birliraki, vice president of the Rethymno Hoteliers Association, said French travelers closely match the profile of quality-focused visitor that Crete is targeting, noting that they are not confined to organized resorts but choose accommodation within towns and show year-round interest in culture, nature and gastronomy.
Visitor figures support that picture: around 500,000 French nationals travel to Crete annually, with 2025 arrivals reaching close to 485,000. Earlier data compiled by INSETE for 2023 put the scale of the market at 670,000 visits, 5.65 million overnight stays and travel receipts of approximately €624 million.
Alkis Kyriakakis, Operations Manager at the Kyriakakis company, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ) that the French market is showing strong growth, to the point that operators now run organized themed tours conducted entirely in French. He said maintaining winter air access is the most important factor in sustaining the local economy outside the peak summer season, a trend also reflected in recent Heraklion airport passenger figures.
More airline talks under way
Transavia’s new route is described as a first step. The Crete Hoteliers Association is already in discussions with other carriers to further expand the island’s winter flight schedule, according to industry representatives, who noted that keeping hotels and restaurants open through winter is not enough on its own without direct air links to major European hubs. Other carriers have moved in a similar direction: Jet2 recently announced additional seats and extended flight periods to Crete for 2027, and hospitality groups have discussed similar strategies at a recent Cretan Hospitality Association planning meeting in Ierapetra, part of wider efforts to broaden year-round experiences offered on the island beyond the summer season.
