Transavia France Will Add Crete Flights for Winter 2026/2027
The airline will connect Paris Orly and Heraklion with up to four weekly flights during the off-season.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Air Travel
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Transavia France is expanding its winter 2026/2027 schedule to include direct service between Paris Orly and Heraklion in Crete. The route will feature up to four flights per week as part of an effort to grow tourism to Greece.
Why it matters
This route expansion supports a strategic push to extend the Greek tourism season and attract international visitors during the colder months. It follows a series of collaborative marketing efforts between the airline and national tourism authorities.
The new service between Paris Orly and Heraklion will operate with a frequency of up to four flights per week. This development follows a 2026 campaign that included 14 separate promotional initiatives between Transavia France and the GNTO.
The players
Transavia France
This is a low-cost airline subsidiary of the Air France-KLM group that operates flights from several French airports.
GNTO
The Greek National Tourism Organization is the official state agency responsible for promoting tourism in Greece.
Andreas Fiorentinos
He serves as the Secretary General of the Greek National Tourism Organization.
The details
Confirmed at the IFTM Top Resa 2026 exhibition, the route aims to solidify Greece as a year-round destination for travelers from France. The partnership builds on the success of a similar off-season service expansion to Thessaloniki that the airline introduced in 2025.
Timeline
Transavia added off-season flights to Thessaloniki in 2025.
GNTO and Transavia implemented 14 promotional initiatives during 2026.
The new Crete service will operate during the winter 2026/2027 season.
Travel Outlook
This route addition follows the Greek National Tourism Organization's strategy to extend the tourism season beyond traditional summer peaks. By adding capacity to Crete during the winter, the airline is responding to a broader shift toward year-round Mediterranean travel.
Travelers looking to visit Crete during the winter months will soon have increased flight frequency between Paris and Heraklion. Booking these routes early may help secure better fares as airlines adjust schedules to account for off-season demand.
The takeaway
Expanding air access is a critical lever for Mediterranean destinations attempting to sustain their economies through the winter. Travelers can benefit from this push by exploring popular summer hubs during the off-season when crowds are thinner and flight options are growing.
Further reading
For more on evolving route maps and industry trends, visit Air Travel.
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