Sky Express

Q: What are Sky Express's airline codes?

Sky Express's IATA code is GQ , its ICAO code is SEH , and its callsign is AIR CRETE .

GQ SEH

Sky Express is a Greek airline based in Heraklion, Crete, flying from Athens to the Greek islands and to cities across Europe. This guide covers its hubs, network, fleet, cabins, baggage, check-in, lounges and airport transportation.

28
Aircraft: 60
Destinations: ATH, HER, SKG
Hubs

Landing with Sky Express?

Pick your arrival airport. Fixed price, and a driver in arrivals with your name on a sign.

Book from ATH

The airline

About Sky Express

Schedules, aircraft assignments, terminals and fare rules can change. Confirm operational details directly with Sky Express before travel.

Official name: Cretan Aviation Operations Aviation and Commercial S.A. (Κρητικές Αεροπορικές Εκμεταλλεύσεις Αεροπορική και Εμπορική Α.Ε.), trading as SKY express
Callsign: AIR CRETE
Country: Greece
Founded: 2005
Head office: Heraklion International Airport, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
Alliance: None (codeshare partnerships, including Etihad Airways)
Frequent-flyer program: None listed on the airline's website
Official website: skyexpress.gr

Sky Express (styled SKY express) is a Greek airline founded in 2005 and headquartered at Heraklion International Airport on Crete. It flies a domestic network across Greece along with international routes to Europe and nearby regions. It is not a member of an airline alliance, but it has codeshare agreements with other carriers, including Etihad Airways since 2025.

Its main base is Athens International Airport, with further bases in Heraklion and Thessaloniki. From these airports it serves about 60 destinations: more than 30 airports in Greece, from large islands such as Crete, Rhodes and Corfu to small islands such as Astypalaia, Kythira and Skyros, plus 27 international destinations in Europe, the Caucasus and the eastern Mediterranean. Some small-island routes are flown under public service obligation contracts.

The fleet of 28 aircraft combines Airbus A320neo, A321neo and A320 jets with ATR 72-600 and ATR 42-500 turboprops.

Network

Where Sky Express flies

Routes and frequencies change with the season, and some island and international routes fly in summer only. Some flights are sold with partner flight numbers under codeshare agreements; check the "operated by" line when you book.

Greece

Flights from Athens to more than 30 Greek airports, including Santorini, Mykonos, Heraklion, Chania, Rhodes, Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Kos, Paros and Naxos, plus smaller islands such as Astypalaia, Ikaria, Kythira, Leros and Skyros.

Island and regional links

Routes that skip Athens, such as Thessaloniki to Samos and Heraklion to Tirana, with Thessaloniki to Chania from late October 2026.

Europe

Flights from Athens to cities including Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Lisbon, London Gatwick, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris, Prague, Rome, Vienna and Warsaw, with Barcelona from late October 2026. Heraklion has direct flights to cities such as Lyon, Brussels and Paris.

Eastern Mediterranean and beyond

Routes to Larnaca, Istanbul, Tirana and Yerevan.

Aircraft

Sky Express fleet

The figure of 28 aircraft is the fleet listed on the Sky Express website in October 2026. The aircraft shown at booking is not guaranteed until departure.

Airbus A321neo

Two aircraft with the most seats in the fleet, used on busy domestic and international routes.

Airbus A320neo and A320

Ten A320neo and one older A320, flying international routes and the main domestic routes.

ATR 72-600

Eleven turboprops flying domestic routes to Greek islands and regional airports.

ATR 42-500

Four smaller turboprops for island airports with short runways and lower demand.

On board

Sky Express cabin classes

Sky Express flies narrowbody jets and turboprops. Its fares are sold as economy fare types and a business fare with different baggage, seat-selection and change conditions. Check the fare conditions before you buy.

BLISS and BLISS+

The business fare, with a larger cabin-bag allowance, two checked bags, free seat selection, lounge access, Fast Lane and priority baggage delivery. BLISS+ also includes a vacant middle seat and same-day changes.

Economy

Sold as SKY offer, SKY joy, SKY joy+ and SKY enjoy fares, plus SKY Basic on some routes. All include a cabin bag and a personal item; checked baggage, seat selection and change rules depend on the fare.

Before you fly

Practical information

Baggage Cabin bags, checked bags, missing luggage

Sky Express baggage allowances depend on the fare type and route.

Carry-on

Every fare includes one cabin bag of up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm and a personal item of up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm that fits under the seat in front. The cabin bag can weigh up to 8 kg in economy and 13 kg on BLISS fares.

Checked baggage

SKY offer and SKY joy fares do not include checked bags. SKY joy+ and SKY Basic include one 15 kg bag, SKY enjoy one 23 kg bag, and BLISS fares two 32 kg bags. Each bag can measure up to 156 cm in total and weigh up to 32 kg.

Special items

Sports equipment, pets, bulky items and medical equipment follow separate rules. Check the official Sky Express fare and baggage page before you fly.

Check-in and boarding Steps before departure

Online check-in on skyexpress.gr opens 48 hours before departure and closes 3 hours before. Airport counters close 40 minutes before departure at Greek airports and 50 to 60 minutes before at airports abroad.

1 Confirm
Confirm the airline, airport and departure time in your booking.
2 Documents
Review ID, passport, visa and entry requirements for your destination.
3 Check in
Check in online as soon as it opens.
4 Boarding pass
Download the boarding pass to your phone or print it.
5 Arrive early
Arrive at least 2 hours before departure, and be at the gate at least 20 minutes before departure if you have no bags to drop off.

Lounges

Sky Express offers lounge access at Athens, Heraklion and Thessaloniki through Skyserv VIP lounges, sold as the SKY Executive Lounge. Access is included with BLISS fares and can be added to other fares when booking or in Manage My Flight up to 60 minutes before departure. Check opening hours before you travel.

Loyalty program

Sky Express does not list a frequent-flyer program on its website. Its codeshare partners, including Etihad Airways, run their own programs, so check with the partner whether a Sky Express flight earns miles before you book.

Flight status and customer service Official sources

For current operational information, use Sky Express's official services:

Sky Express website

skyexpress.gr for booking, check-in, trip management and flight information

Manage My Flight

flights.skyexpress.gr to view or change a booking and add services

Where you land

Sky Express airports

In Athens, Sky Express flies from Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH). Several Greek islands have more than one airline and some routes connect islands directly, so check the departure and arrival airports on your ticket before you book a transfer.

Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport Hub

ATH · Athens