(Image: Getty)
Flight packages from Newcastle Airport to a popular Greek island will be suspended as the airport closes for major works soon.
Chios Airport on Chios, Greece’s fifth-biggest island, is scheduled to close for four months.
The island has around 50,000 residents and is set to be shut off to visitors during the closure.
The airport is shutting down while the runway is extended and upgraded ahead of next summer’s tourist season.
Chios Airport to close for 4 months, affecting Newcastle passengers
Travel packages from Newcastle to Chios will be suspended when the Greek island’s airport closes.
Visitors typically fly to Athens or Thessaloniki before taking a smaller connecting plane to Chios.
Newcastle Airport flies passengers to both Athens and Thessaloniki.
The closure will affect visitors using holiday packages from the likes of Gatwick, Manchester and Edinburgh airports.
Flights will be suspended while the runway is extended and upgraded ahead of next summer’s tourist season.
The runway is currently 1,511 metres long, so wide-bodied aircraft cannot land there.
It handles smaller propeller planes and narrow-body aircraft.
Once the project is complete, the runway will measure 1,799m and allow much larger aircraft to use the airport.
Emergency flights, including medical evacuations and search and rescue, will also be allowed to land during the work.
Have you been to Chios? (Image: Getty)
But the plan has faced opposition from the island’s chamber of commerce.
The President of the Chios chamber of commerce, Pantelis Legatos, said: "The early closure will seriously affect the economy and society of the island, especially during the holiday season (Christmas, New Year), when people have planned trips, family visits and medical appointments.
"Chios, as a border island 5 miles from Turkey, depends on the air connection with the capital for health, entertainment and freedom reasons."
The original plan was to close the airport on January 15, months later than the current schedule for works.
Now, the closure is scheduled to take place from November 15, 2026 until March 15, 2027.
Newcastle Airport passengers to see new EU luggage rules
Newcastle Airport passengers could also notice new EU baggage rules if they visit some European countries.
However, holidaymakers flying from Newcastle Airport should not assume they will be able to take a larger cabin suitcase without paying extra.
The changes form part of an overhaul of EU air passenger rights, with new rules designed to make baggage allowances clearer and flight prices easier to compare.
Under the regulation, airlines must allow passengers to take one personal item into the cabin at no extra cost.
The personal item must measure no more than 40cm x 30cm x 15cm, or fit under the seat in front.
While the EU is allowing these extra items, it's worth noting that UK rules aren't changing.
Therefore, an extra item being taken from the UK to an EU country will cost extra for Newcastle Airport passengers, but these passengers will not need to pay extra to bring the item back.
This could be handy when passengers wish to bring souvenirs back from the EU.
Have you ever been to Chios? Let us know in the comments below.