In December 2015, the privatization of Zakynthos International Airport and 13 other regional airports of Greece was finalized with the signing of the agreement between the
Fraport AG/Copelouzos Group joint venture and the state privatisation fund.[4] "We signed the deal today," the head of Greece's privatisation agency
HRADF, Stergios Pitsiorlas, told Reuters.[5] According to the agreement, the joint venture will operate the 14 airports (including Zakynthos International Airport) for 40 years from 11 April 2017.[6]
The airport is close to the town and beach of
Kalamaki. Kalamaki beach is part of the
National Marine Park of Zakynthos. The endangered loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) lay their eggs at the beaches of the marine park at night during the summer months. This has resulted in aircraft movement restrictions. Flights are not permitted to take off or land between 10:00PM to 5:00AM. It is at the jurisdiction of the Greek authorities to allow aircraft movements at night under extenuating circumstances. The airport opened in 1972.[7] An expansion of the airport's apron area to 35,100 m2 was completed in 2003, and a new 22,150 m2 terminal building was completed in 2008. The airport is 4.3 km from
Zakynthos town and other seaside tourist destinations such as
Laganas,
Tsilivi and
Kalamaki. The main approach into the airport is Runway 34. Aircraft usually have to fly over
Laganas bay and make a 180-degree turn, before their final approach over sunbathing tourists on the busy
Kalamaki beach.