Zakynthos Airport

[by Keith]

To whom it may concern:
I have visited several Greek Islands, and I can safely report that of them all, your aiport is the worse so far.
OK, you might say that Naxos is just a big hut, but it only handles one small plane at a time. For the number of passengers you handle, Zakynthos airport is a joke.
For the amount of revenue your island earns from tourists, it's about time that you enlarged and modernised your airport.
On arrival, one small luggage conveyor for all flights in a cramped hall is ridiculous. And for anyone trying to get through the melee with a child in a buggy it's a nightmare start to their holiday.
The 'round the block' queing system for check in also gives the impression that you do not care about passenger comfort as they are now on their way home. Also the depature 'lounge' is woefully inadequate.
A colleague of mine recently endured a 20hr delay in your minute departure hall where there was standing room only and the only food available was a sandwich for 10 Euros.
I am not saying that holiday makers should not visit your Island, which is a great holiday venue with something for all.
What I am saying is that you might like to invest in your airport and not treat passengers like cattle (in fact if you treated cattle that way the EU would have something to say about it).
Any news about airport modernisation posted here would be welcomed.

[alexis]

Ha... if I was president.....
What can I say... I want to cry because there are so many problems in Greece. When I was younger I was finding that these very funny and "folklo" but today I am disapointed because no much improvment are done. I have never been to the airport of Zakynthos so not much too say about it but I remenber 4-5 years ago when I was going to Santorini by plane. I arrived there and was shocked by the airport. It was in renovation which is a very good thing but why do they have to do the renovation in the middle of the summer???? They had all winter to do that! Why do they have to present an airport with huge holes in the walls? What a good strategy... yes... what a good image for the incoming tourism. The tourists must think that they arrived in a lost contry. What a shame for a EU contry.
Then I was shocked by the electric cables. I had them in front of my hotel's room! and could not enjoyed the view as I wanted! Santorini is the most touristy and rich island of Greece. There key of success is the view and many electric cables are in all the streets. As the view is their only product why don't they put them underground like in many EU countrys?

It is a shame to have such a beautiful contry and to do so many mistakes.

[by delfini]

I would have to agree...the airport in Zakynthos is awful - it's old, it's small, and crammed full of people, with so many flights leaving at once.
I'm assuming that at some point in our lifetime, with so much development in Alykanas now, Tsilivi, etc. that the airport issue will be tackled.
Now, if there were any venues for the Olympics on the island last year, you'd see how quickly this issue would have been resolved!
delfini

[by Pete]

The airport on zante (Zakynthos) now has a seperate new arrivals building with two conveyor belts for luggage.

[by pigeon]

Hi All, I'm new on this site . Ive been to zakynthos many times over the last 16years but gave it a miss for the first time last year . i'm afraid i have a medical condition now and i really find it rather difficult to stand for to long a period , which is one of the reasons why i missed going last year .I really did miss going , such a nice island and people . Any way enough of my problems . I know that they are using the old airport building soley for a departure lounge now 'but have they or are they going to improve it from what it was ?What is the seating capacity going to be ?Do's any know . I've been trying to get an e mail address for the airport so that i could ask them but i can't find it can anyone help on any of these Questions thanks .Regards pigeon

[by ratty]

Hi, I have planned to visit Zakynthos again in 2007. I am pleased to hear the airports arrival terminal as been completed. I was looking on the web and found this web page I think it is the offical airport one. http://www.hcaa-eleng.gr/zakinth.htm .

[by dizzyprimrose]

Just returned from the beautiful island of Zante. The departure terminal is the most disgusting place we have experienced. We spent 2 hours standing in the sun waiting to get into the airport, as our tour operator Thomas Cook had taken us there 3 hours before departure. Once inside the building we realised that the air conditioning was not switched on. People were having to sit/lay on the filthy floor, as seating is very limited. We found an open doorway and spent a few minutes out in the frest air, until a security guard ushered us inside and locked the door, saying that the air conditioning had been switched on. Air conditioning! What a joke! The new departure building is just a shell and looks like remaining so for many years to come. With the amount of revenue tourists are bringing to Zante, you would have thought the government would have had the decency to arrange it's speedy completion. Thankfully, we will not be repeating that experience again!!

[by Xeno]

I dont want to be unkind but the departures is awful. This September we didn't have too long to wait outside as we were there early evening with fewer flights. But inside after security was dire. Hardly any seats, the floor has cracked & broken tiles, the snack bar is expensive by any standards. lavatories are down a spirals stair, a good number of the WCs and washbasins out of order. It was a relief to get on the aircraft and back to the 21st century.
As was said earlier we tourists are an important source of income for the island and deserve better.

[by Simon Parton]

Well,after a lovely visit to Zakynthos,my partner and I decided to get a drink and a bite to eat at the airport Snack Bar?which I may add is a new Snack Bar this year.

Imagine our surprise when we found out how much we would have to pay for the following items?

2 Cans of Pop ? 7 Euros (?5)

A Crusty Baguette ? 5 Euros (?3.58)

A Pint of Lager ? 8 Euros (?5.72)

What a * rip-off!!

I have visited Zakynthos 16 times over the last 10 years and I have always enjoyed my stay.However,having encountered the prices being charged at this Snack Bar I feel damned insulted to say the least! It was as if they were saying ?Thank you for visiting our island?now sod-off and don?t come back!?

I hope the Zakynthos Tourist Board is reading these comments and does something about it.People do NOT deserve to be ripped-off like this.

Therefore,I must warn people returning from a visit to Zakynthos to not buy refreshments from the airport Snack-Bar and to take your own food and drink instead.


I noticed this year that all resorts in Zakynthos were very quiet.Even Laganas (usually the busiest resort) was like a ghost-town.They have obviously been put-off by something,and the people who did visit Zakynthos this year will not be persuaded to return thanks to Mr Rip-Off?s Snack Bar at the airport.

I also noticed that for the first time in 10 years people?s hand luggage was being weighed at Zakynthos airport as you checked-in for departure?a ridiculous practice because as soon as you go to the departure lounge you can then visit the duty-free shop and buy even more goods making your hand-luggage even heavier!

Incidently,6 cans of pop at the airports duty-free shop cost 6.5 Euros?quite a lot cheaper than Mr Rip-Off?s Snack Bar!

[by Sonia_Serbia]

Hi, I have planned to visit Zakynthos again in 2007. I am pleased to hear the airports arrival terminal as been completed. I was looking on the web and found this web page I think it is the offical airport one. http://www.hcaa-eleng.gr/zakinth.htm .

Wow,it's good to hear something like this, because, this summer, airport on Zakynthos looked little bit sad.

[by spartiatissa]

wow. lol I am planning to visit Zakynthos this summer so i hope the airport is not a disaster this summer!

[by carettacaretta]

wow. lol I am planning to visit Zakynthos this summer so i hope the airport is not a disaster this summer!

I have not been to Zakynthos these past 3 years now but have read that there has been good improvements at the airport.

I read this on the justzante site,have a look and you will find postings from peole who have been going to Zalynthos for many years.

Have a lovely holiday.

[by mike69]

thats right