Thera Santorini Airport (JTR) Flights & Flight Status

There’s nothing quite like flying into Santorini for the first time. The blue-tipped houses and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea below are synonymous with a relaxing vacation in the sun and the Santorini International Airport (JTR) in nearby Thira makes it simple to ease into the vibe of your holiday here.

Santorini International Airport is very small given the number of travellers it receives during peak season. Despite the crowds you may encounter during those times, you should be able to get in and out without waiting around for too long.

If you’re planning a trip to Santorini, you’ll want to read on. I’m laying out everything you need to know and providing all the best tips for flying through Santorini International Airport.

Arriving at the airport

If you’re flying into Santorini, you’ll want to spend as little time in the airport as possible in order to maximize your vacation minutes on the island. Depending on where you’re coming from, arriving at JTR will look different.

If you’re flying into Santorini International Airport from neighbouring Athens as I usually do, all you’ll have to do is proceed to the baggage claim and collect your luggage. This can sometimes take a little while, especially if there is more than one domestic flight arriving at once. Still, I’ve always found my luggage easily and rolled out of the airport with bags in hand in under half an hour.

Those who are flying into Santorini from outside of the European Union will have to go through customs before heading to the baggage claim. The international flights tend to be spaced out, but you’ll want to keep in mind that there’s often only 1 or 2 immigration officers working, so getting through immigration can take upwards of an hour if you’re in the back of the line.

I would recommend trying to select a seat near the front of the plane and avoiding taking any bathroom breaks before clearing customs, if possible.

Getting to and from JTR by public transportation

The island of Santorini is small. As such it doesn’t have the same subway systems or rail routes as bigger European cities. There are airport shuttle busses that will take you from the airport to Fira on the intercity KTEL bus, but then you’ll have to transfer at least once in order to get to your accommodation.

It’s also worth noting that the bus schedule is subject to change without advanced warning. This means you could end up waiting a long time for the shuttle bus to show up, so be mentally prepared if you choose this route.

The shuttle bus is quite comfortable. It’s an air-conditioned coach and only takes about 15 to 20 minutes to get from the airport to the capital of Santorini. If you are keen to save money on transportation, it’s definitely not the worst option but it will require patience.

Getting to and from JTR by car

When I arrive in Santorini, I prefer to opt for a taxi over taking public transportation. It only takes about 20 to 30 minutes to drive from the airport to the hotel hotspots in Oia and I always find it’s worth the additional cost to get to my hotel quickly and efficiently.

Santorini International Airport is about 16 km from Oia (which is where you’ll likely be staying) and a taxi will typically cost significantly less than you'd pay in other neighbouring vacation hot spots like Paris, Istanbul or Rome, depending on the season and exactly where you’re heading. Taxis are safe and reliable in Santorini but you’ll want to make sure to hire reputable companies like Aegean Taxi to ensure you aren’t upsold.

It’s also worth noting that Uber is available in Santorini, in case you’re more comfortable booking through a ridesharing app. Keep in mind that unlike other destinations around Europe, Uber on the island of Santorini is much more expensive than just booking a local taxi service and you’ll likely pay at least 10 to 15% more than you would with a registered cab.

Security lines at JTR

The security lines at Santorini International Airport can be seriously long. The airport is small and has just one single terminal for all flights. As such, this airport can get pretty darn congested during peak travel times.

You might think you’ll be okay with the suggested 90-minute arrival time, and you really might be just fine, but I strongly suggest getting there at least 2 to 3 hours before your flight. Especially if you have to check any luggage, like I usually do.

The airport is so small that many airlines share check-in counters and this means that they don’t start accepting bags until 2 hours before each flight departs. Unfortunately, this can make the check-in line so long that it goes outdoors. If you’re at the end of the line, you’re going to be left with very little time to get through security if you don’t come quite early.

Luckily, the security lines at JTR tend to move quickly. I’ve never had to wait for more than 20 minutes, but I would still recommend giving yourself ample time to get through on the off chance that you get stuck behind a large crowd.

Free Wi-Fi at Santorini International Airport

As a full-time travel writer and chronically online person, I really appreciate when an airport offers decent and easily accessible free Wi-Fi. Thankfully Santorini International Airport has free Wi-Fi all throughout the airport. It doesn’t require a code or registering at a terminal like some airports do. Instead, just connect right from your device.

Souvenir shopping at the airport

The souvenir shopping at Santorini International Airport is limited. But unlike other airports, it actually offers some pretty decent locally-made items that can make for very good last-minute souvenirs. There’s a classic duty-free shop that’s stocked with plenty of items like fragrances, electronics and chocolate, but there’s also a gallery that sells products and art crafted from local Greek artists and designers.

I really like the selection available at the airport, but you’re still going to be better off doing your shopping before getting to the airport. It’s great that JTR offers local goods rather than mass-produced products, but you’ll still be paying a markup for this last-minute shopping compared to buying your souvenirs in town, where they’re much cheaper.

Lounges at the airport

There is pretty limited seating at JTR and the airport doesn’t offer any lounges, either. This means that even if you’re flying business class or you have status, there are no VIP areas whatsoever to get away from the crowds or even to secure a seat at this surprisingly small airport.

Some people opt to wait outside and enjoy the Greek sun for as long as possible before going through security and heading to their gate, but I personally wouldn’t recommend doing this just in case you miscalculate how long it will take. It’s not the end of the world to wait around by your gate and sit on the floor or stand for a little bit before boarding the aircraft, if you can.

Service animal relief area at JTR

If you’re planning on bringing your service animal or pet with you on your vacation in Santorini, you’ll be glad to know that Santorini is very animal friendly. You shouldn’t have any issues travelling with your service animal or pet around the island, including at the airport.

That said, you’ll want to keep in mind that Santorini International Airport doesn’t have a designated service animal relief area. This means that you’ll have to exit the airport and take your pet or service animal outside if they have to do their business before taking off.

This shouldn’t be a huge issue at such a small airport, as long as you give yourself enough time to get back through security before your flight begins boarding.