O N T O U R: The Island of Zakynthos and Excel Airways
Simon Warburton reports:
There is no doubt that ”Wooded Zakynthos” as Homer named it, more than lives up to the ancient description today as the island destination retains a surprisingly timbered character despite lying in such a southerly location in the Ionian Sea, and is one of the most westerly of the Greek islands.
Zakynthos, or ”Zante” as the non-natives term it, is a massive favourite for teeming hordes of tourists every summer, with Brits and Germans making up the majority of visitors, pouring substantial amounts of Euros into the island”s myriad hotels, bars and restaurants.
Despite being quintessentially Greek today, Zakynthos has endured a turbulent past, coming under the influence of Roman and Venetian spheres, as well as British, French, Russian and German control and what local guide books describe as the ”Turkish yoke”.
Such a diversity of history is reflected in island architecture, although this was decimated in 1953 when a cataclysmic earthquake shattered the island, reducing much of the ancient sites and modern buildings to rubble. Thankfully, Zakynthos has fought back from such successive occupations and natural disaster to become one of Greece”s most sought after holiday destinations.
Today”s occupiers are almost exclusively tourists from the chilly north, who can take advantage of a plethora of UK and European charter services into Dionysous Airport, situated just 6km from Zakynthos town, but whose facilities are currently being upgraded.
Arriving at Dionysous Airport is a pleasant enough experience ” formalities are brief and efficient, while baggage reclaim, while not lightening quick, is nonetheless reasonably efficient. It is rather on the return that the system throws up some unusual quirks.
Citing extra security, several flights for a mid-morning departure back to the UK, arrive at the airport at the unearthly hour of 7am and while half of these passengers check in as normal, the other half have to go through a supplementary X-ray check. What is the logic in only screening half the passengers? In any event the airport struggles with passenger facilities for 189-seat Boeing 737-800s and spoils a wonderful impression by charging seven Euros for a coffee and a pastry.
Away from the frustrations of the airport, the island is dotted with hotels catering for package holidays, but if there is one twinge of regret, it is the proliferation of ”All Day English Breakfast” signs and featureless bars thumping out mindless music that cater for these sunseekers, who sometimes have to search pretty hard for authentic Greek culture.
But unlike so many other Greek islands, Zakynthos has a vast array of sandy beaches looking out over warm, crystal blue waters and replete with the usual choice of aquatic sports for most tastes. One of the best ways to view these Azur seas and the island topography, is to take one of the many boat trips available around Zakynthos. The tour lasts around a day ” the island is more than 100km in circumference ” but is well worth it for the chance to see flying fish and the Caretta Caretta turtle so prevalent in the area.
Excel Airways first took off in May 2001 and chairman Eamonn Mullaney is forecasting an overall 2003 profit of ”13m (up from ”11.7m for the same 12 month period in 2002).
Mullaney spent 30 years with British Airways before entering the charter airline market and he and his colleagues now own 18% of Excel Airways, with the remaining 82% held by Cypriot company, Libra, whose UK headquarters are at New Barnet, North London.
For the 2004 season the airline is to expand utilising a fleet of six Boeing 737-800s, one 757-200, two 767-200s, one 767-300 aircraft, (Gatwick) two 737-800s, one 767-200 and three 757s (Manchester) as well as one 757 at Glasgow, to largely Mediterranean destinations. Next summer”s programme will also feature two new bases at Birmingham and Newcastle, where two 737-800s will be based respectively.
Winter services from Gatwick will feature one 767-200, one 767-300 and three 737-800 aircraft, with a further ”800 based at Manchester. West Indies flights are slated for a November launch, with a three-class service to Grenada, Tobago and St Kitts in association with tour operator, Golden Caribbean. The airline remains unusual in that it offers free (and extremely good) in-flight meals coupled with seat allocation at check-in, but despite the usual gripe of a charter passenger concerning seat pitch, the service remains cheerful and efficient, as well as decent value for money. http://www.excelairways.comhttp://www.zakynthos.net.gr