Chania International Airport

LGSA / CHQ

Souda, GR

Last Updated
May 14, 13:20Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 24 min ago
13:20Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
22°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 11°C
21 kt
270° G31 kt
10+ km
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
--
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR LGSA 141320Z 27021G31KT 9999 FEW020 22/11 Q1007

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 490 ft
FEW 2,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
2,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
2,490 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Chania International Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with few clouds at 2,000 feet and 10 miles or greater visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the west (270°) at 21 knots with gusts to 31 knots. Runway 29 is favored with a 20-knot headwind and 7-knot crosswind component (gusting to 11 knots crosswind). Student pilots and low-time aviators should exercise caution.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is unrestricted. No ceiling exists. Cloud layers reported: few at 2,000 ft.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 22°C (72°F) with a dewpoint of 11°C, indicating relatively dry conditions.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to remain VFR throughout the forecast period. Winds are forecast to reach up to 20 knots during the period. Temporary VFR conditions are forecast between 12:00Z and 20:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. Gusty conditions may exceed demonstrated crosswind components for many general aviation aircraft. Check your aircraft's limitations.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF LGSA 141100Z 1412/1512 27020KT 9999 FEW020 TEMPO 1412/1420 27020G30KT
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
13:43Z BASE
+0h
VFR 270° 20 kt
Visibility: 10+ km

24-Hour Weather Evolution

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Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
GSA
11
29 ✈️

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 11/29
Active: 29
10,982 ft 148 ft ASP 111°
19.7 kt 7.2 kt
20° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - LGSA

10,980 observations | Sep 2025 - May 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
79.1%
MVFR
20.7%
IFR
0.2%
LIFR
0%

Chania International Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 79.1% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 0.2% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the W averaging 9.1 knots, with gusts recorded up to 55 knots. Calm conditions occur 26.8% of the time. Temperatures typically range between 4°C and 34°C with an average of 16°C. The best months for VFR flying are September, October, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: W (270°)
Average Speed: 9.1 kt
Maximum Recorded: 55 kt
Calm Winds: 26.8%
Direction Distribution:
N
9.3%
NE
9.2%
E
7.9%
SE
4.4%
S
1.5%
SW
3.3%
W
28.1%
NW
9.4%

Temperature Range

Average: 16°C
Range: 4°C to 34°C
4°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 10 SM
Below 3 SM: 0%
Fog Frequency: 0%

Best Months for VFR

September October November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 11/29
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.8 kt

Statistics computed from 10,980 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - May 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Chania International Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: LGSA
IATA Code: CHQ
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 490 ft MSL

Location

City: Souda
Country: GR
Latitude: 35.531700°
Longitude: 24.149700°
Time Zone: Europe/Athens

Runway Information

Runway 11/29
Length: 10,982 ft
Width: 148 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No

About Chania International Airport

Overview

Chania International Airport serves the northwestern region of Crete, located near the city of Souda. The airport is a medium-sized facility situated at an elevation of 490 feet mean sea level, with a single runway (11/29) measuring 10,982 feet in length and constructed with asphalt surface.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at Chania are predominantly favorable for visual flight rules (VFR), with 81.9% of observations supporting clear flying conditions. The airport experiences consistent western winds averaging 8.8 knots, with temperatures ranging from 4°C to 34°C and an average of 17.2°C. September, October, and November represent the most stable VFR months for operations.

Notable Features

The airport's geographical position on Crete provides a strategic location for regional and international aviation. The runway demonstrates excellent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind conditions for runway 11/29. Average crosswind components remain relatively low at 4.7 knots, contributing to predictable landing and takeoff scenarios.

Approach Considerations

Pilots can expect consistent western wind patterns when approaching Chania International Airport. The long 10,982-foot runway provides substantial landing and takeoff flexibility. With minimal occurrences of reduced visibility and negligible fog events, instrument approaches are typically straightforward, supporting high operational reliability.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.