Zakynthos International Airport "Dionysios Solomos" is an airport in Zakynthos, Greece. History 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. "We signed the deal today," the head of Greece's privatisation agency HRADF, Stergios Pitsiorlas, told Reuters. According to the agreement, the joint venture will operate the 14 airports (including Zakynthos International Airport) for 40 years from 11 April 2017. 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. 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. Fraport Greece's investment plan On 22 March 2017, Fraport Greece presented its master plan for the 14 regional airports, including the Zakynthos International Airport. Immediate actions that were implemented at airports operated by Fraport Greece, before the launch of the 2017 summer season, included: General clean-up Improving lighting, marking of airside areas Upgrading sanitary facilities Enhancing services and offering a new free Internet connection (WiFi) Implementing works to improve fire safety in all the areas of the airports Specifically for Zakynthos International Airport, the following changes were implemented under Fraport Greece's investment plan: Refurbishing and remodeling current terminal HBS inline screening Refurbishing air traffic control tower New fire station Relocating power transformers and generators Reorganizing airport apron area Refurbishing airside pavement Reorganizing landside roads & parking New security guardhouse 33 percent increase in check-in counters (from 15 to 20) 150 percent increase in the number of security-check