British tourists have found themselves stranded on the Greek island of Zakynthos, commonly known as Zante, due to a little-known regulation aimed at protecting endangered loggerhead sea turtles. The airport's night curfew, which prohibits flights between sunset and 7am, has caught out many holidaymakers whose late-evening departures are delayed until the following day.
Tourist's Ordeal Goes Viral
TikTok user NKD Zante shared a video detailing a harrowing journey home. "I had a journey from hell back from Zante about two days ago," they said. "What is meant to be about a four-hour journey home ended up being over 24 hours." The traveller explained that their flight was scheduled for 10pm, but at five minutes to ten, they were told it was delayed until the next morning. Passengers were given 15-euro snack vouchers and had to wait three hours for hotel transfers, with no confirmed departure time.
Why the Curfew Exists
Zakynthos International Airport (ZTH) introduced night flight restrictions in the early 1990s to protect loggerhead sea turtles, which nest on the island's beaches. These turtles are indigenous to the Mediterranean and are listed as endangered due to habitat destruction and human interference. Zakynthos is a critical nesting site, hosting about 80% of the Mediterranean loggerhead population.
The turtles are particularly active at night and are sensitive to noise and light from aircraft. The curfew, running from sunset to 7am, minimises disruption during their breeding season. Other Greek islands have also implemented measures such as restricting access to nesting beaches after dark and reducing artificial lighting.
Advice for Travellers
Travel Republic advises holidaymakers: "Night flights to and from Zakynthos are limited as part of a long-standing 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. It's 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."
In addition to the curfew, Zante Airport has faced other delays recently due to the introduction of the Entry/Exit System, which has led to long waits for passengers entering the country.
