Brits jetting off to the sunny Greek islands this summer have been warned over a strict flight rule that left one tourist dealing with ‘a journey from hell’. Here’s how to avoid getting stung
Brits heading to Greece this summer have been warned over a strict curfew that recently caught one tourist off-guard.
Despite deafening cries to curb over-tourism, a record-breaking 40.7 million international visitors flocked to Greece and its cluster of Instagram-worthy islands last year. It marked a huge 12.8 per cent increase from 2023, and is believed to have created a whopping €21.7 billion (approximately £1.85 billion) in revenue.
Zakynthos, often referred to as just Zante, is one of the many islands affected by the influx. Situated in the crystal-clear Ionian Sea, it lures in swathes of tourists thanks to its lush beaches, rich history and party-mad resorts.
The island’s airport is also often used to whizz passengers over to other popular Greek destinations such as Santorini and Kefalonia. However, many tourists are unaware of a little-known rule that has actually been in place since the early 1990s.
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In a statement sent to the Mirror, experts over at Travel Republic warned UK holidaymakers that night flights to the island a ‘limited’ due to a ‘long-standard effort to protect the island’s endangered loggerhead turtles. “This reflects a growing commitment across the travel industry to support responsible tourism and environmental conservation,” they added.
“It is certainly something for holidaymakers to be aware of. But, by adjusting flight schedules to align with local curfews, airlines and travel providers are helping safeguard the ecosystem.”
Loggerhead sea turtles are particularly active at night, and are vulnerable to light and noise pollution from planes – especially during their nesting season. The curfew therefore prohibits flights departing from sunset to 7am.
One TikToker, who goes by the username NKD Zante, recently got stung by the rules after her 10pm flight was delayed until the next day due to the curfew. Describing the ordeal as ‘a journey from hell’, the social media star fumed: “We had to go back to arrivals, get all our luggage. They took us to the front of the airport, gave us 15 euros snack vouchers for some crisps and stuff, and then it was another three-hour wait while they tried to organise the rest of us to find a place to stay, transfers, [etc].
“They said they had no idea when our flight would be the next morning, and that they’d just text us with the new time the next day. But basically, pretty much everything at Zante Airport shuts at 10pm. So if you have booked a really late flight and it gets delayed for whatever reason, past 10pm, they will just delay you to the next day. I didn’t know this obviously, but apparently, it has happened to six or seven flights in Zante Airport this summer.”
In the comments section, travellers shared concern that the same might happen to them over the summer period. “Don’t say this, my flight back is at 10pm,” one person wrote. Another added: “Me watching this with a flight home from Zante tonight at 10pm.”
The Mirror has approached Zakynthos Airport for comment.
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