Hello Richard, I agree that Corfu airport needs expanding however, having used lots of other Greek airports, I would say that the majority need expanding and Corfu is heaven on earth compared to Rhodes and Heraklion. In Rhodes you don't even get in the airport it is so small until they know your flight is about to touchdown and so the queues in the sun (there is no cover) are sometimes four deep and stretch for a very long way. We were lucky but our neighbours were not.

I suppose I would suggest looking at the Greek Tourist Office web sites and also the Greek Embassy as to who to complain to but don't hold your breath once the complaint goes off. Athens was an absolute disgrace for decades but they didn't do anything about it until they had the promise of the Olympics! It's such a small part of your holiday why worry?

I always have a lovely picnic under the weeping willow tree on the island just outside departures. The children love that to and it has become part of our leaving ritual.

In Rhodes you don't even get in the airport it is so small until they know your flight is about to touchdown and so the queues in the sun (there is no cover) are sometimes four deep and stretch for a very long way

Having just returned from Corfu yesterday I can confirm that is just the same at Corfu airport.
Because of some delays yesterday, the airport terminal, if you could call it that, was full inside with no seating to be found, even standing we were shoulder to shoulder with no space, and there were about 700-1000 passengers who didn't even get in to the terminal until there flight was being checked in, and some of the delays were up to 5 hours.

Being forced to sit / stand outside in full sunshine with no shade for so many hours is not acceptable and the airport operators should relise this and try and get better organised.

I have been to several other Greeek airports where you have to wait outside due to the size of the building, but at least they had some organisation about them - Corfu is just a disorganised shambles both for arrivals but even more so departures.

they take our money, so do we deserve something in return?!!

Who do you regard as "they"?

Having visited Acharavi you perhaps will have noticed how empty it is.

Very nice for the holidaymaker, but not so for those trying to make an honest living.

Doubtless the airport may have been busy but not the towns, where did the people go?

Largely to all-inclusive resorts and buses taking them to Corfu and on to cruises, never to return.

Corfu gains little from this kind of tourism, with the bulk of the money going into the pockets of foreign tour operators.

Less money in the Corfu tourist economy means less money to invest.

Corfu aipors copes well considering the numbers that pass through it and having some kind of plan is helpful for when things get busy.

I remember many years ago before Corfu had niceties such as flight arrivals & departure scrrens with all flights being written up on a whitebaord - No I am not joking!

You must have hit a really bad day. Sorry! You mention delays. I've always found that the tour operators are very good at organising at Corfu airport and have never had to wait for more than 10 minutes to actually check in, so maybe the delays put a spoke in the works. Or possibly the reps are heading for end of season fatigue. Either way it isn't good but you did enjoy your holiday didn't you?

I think perhaps what richard ment by 'they take our money' was the airport & not the local economy.
The airport will get income through getting landing fees, aircraft parking fees, fees for the use of the terminal by holiday reps and also any purchases made with in the airport and so on.

Graham

I have to say the reps seemed to have it reasonably well organised when I cam back about a week ago, the airport was not at it's busiest ( Mon early evening ) which helps.

It took 15 to 20 mins to reach the xray scanners and check in, as always I did not go through to deaprtures until I needed to, as it is always busy, made sure that I had a large bottle of water with me.

Travelling independently I try to book flights on the less busy days / times

Nobody seemed to be suufering long delays thankfully when I was there.

Hi Magster

The day we arrived, Monday morning, there were no delays and there were still about 400 or more people queued outside, and we were sitting on the bus for almost 2 hours (a lot of unhappy passengers) before we left for our resorts, and the same passengers were still standing outside, I don't know when they eventualy got in to the terminal, but our rep told us to take bottles of water and any snacks we may want for our return, as we would be outside for a long time when we depart as this is the norm at the airport.

Apart from the airport shambles (both inbound and outbound) we had a great holiday and it won't stop us going back.
Graham

The last time I went with a tour operator to Corfu, it took 3 and a half hours to get to Acharavi and there was a half empty bus to Roda next to us in the bus park that could have taken us.

It was at that stage that i gave up on the tour operators and made my own arrangements, and have done ever since.

Good to hear some thoughts from you all.
Graham, I was probably at the airport at the same time as you on Monday, my flight was supposed to leave at 12:20 to Gatwick, when I arrived at the airport at 10:30, we were told to stand on the grass opposite the terminal, where we waited for 45 minutes in the blazing sun, yes there were a couple of canopies providing shelter from the sun, but these had already been taken before we got there! Then a couple of reps started to direct us into the terminal where we queued for another half an hour to get through the bag scanners to the check in desk, we then waited to get through to departures.
I bought some gin and jack daniels which cheered me up a bit, but by that time it was already past the departure time for the aircraft, and we waited another good half an hour before we got onto the plane, we left about an hour late! Not one announcement was made about the flight being delayed, and so far as I could see, the only reason it was delayed was because of the sheer number of people needing to get through the check in!
I feel sorry for parents with small children, of which there were lots, there is just no space for them to make sure the kids are happy!
I do travel a lot, and try to go to new places all the time, and of all the european destinations I have been to, I have to say that Corfu airport does need a lot of work!
All credit to the reps, they were doing the best they could, but they shouldn't have to, the greek airport staff seemed completely unconcerned with any of the chaos!
Net Detective, I was talking about the airport itself, not the greek people! I found Achavari most pleasant, and we ate out every night in different places, it was fairly quiet, but this was the reason I chose to go there!

Hello KG,

As per ND, I too now always book my own transfers if travelling on a package. Funnily enough we started to do it because of the delays in getting out of Corfu airport! Yes, you still have to wait about an hour for your luggage but then we're off, with no hanging around for coaches etc. It really is worth the extra money to do it this way.

Magster

Mrs Giraffe and I have now talked about doing that as well after all the hassle at the airport, especially with our tour reps being useless and very conspicuous by there absence, although I did notice all the other tour company reps there doing the best they could.

Best ask the TO for a taxi with no roof though seeing as you are giraffes! Sorry, couldn't resist that.

Corfu airport is awful!
two years ago I was there in October comming home. There had been bad weather and most of the planes were delayed one was struck by lightning
It was early hours in the morning there was a massive storm outside and the airport was filling up rapidly. They had to stop letting people in as their was literally no room at all. All the food and drink in the cafe thingy ran out and their was no replacements. We had a £8 voucher each to spend on food but their was none to buy !!!!
On top of this I got an awful migraine so their I was lying on the floor by the gate waiting for the plane which by the way came after about a 10 hour delay in those conditons. The airport is awful and I think it has put me off Corfu for life, lovely island hoffific airport!!

We came back on the 19th Sept.and had no problems at the airport. Our reps with Manos, Joe and Frankie were brilliant and everything went very smoothly. Arriving in corfu was a nightmare as they wouldnt let us land - too many planes on the tarmac apparently and no where to park, bit like the M25! We circled for a while then zoomed off to Brendisi, Italy to refuel then back to Corfu, which took 1/2 hr. Collecting our baggage was a bun fight and hilarious, about 5 people deep, you could see your bags merrily going around but couldnt get to them.... we were warned about all this so just took it in our stride, couldnt do anything about it, thats travelling for you. So we were very delayed going, but coming back was a breeze. No delays, straight on the plane and before you know it we were home and in civilization at Gatwick. Even waiting outside wasnt a problem as there were coverings and the reps just kept informing us of what was going on and where to go. No problems.. you must have had a bad day then...

Sue, my daughter and her family also came home from Corfu on 19th and said the same as you about there being no problems. It was their first time in Corfu and, being an old hand, I'd given her all the warnings about how bad it would be and she now thinks I was exaggerating, but I think it was more a case of the 19th being a good day than the other way round

All they would need to do is add another floor onto the airport and it would be much more spacious.

if all the flights are on time or have minor delays then yes i can imagine there being no problem. But the airport is not equipped for delays there is simply not enough room/facilities. This may be no different to any other airport but I have experienced delays in a few airports myself and Corfu was a nightmare