Newsroom
Passengers at Athens International Airport and other regional airports in Greece are facing significant delays and cancellations due to a sudden slowdown in air traffic management.
Reports indicate that air traffic controllers began a "go slow" strike last night, operating fewer flights to put pressure on the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in response to unresolved labor demands. The unannounced strike has severely impacted flight schedules, with air traffic being handled at a slower pace than usual.
At Athens' Eleftherios Venizelos Airport, only 44 aircraft movements per hour—22 arrivals and 22 departures—are being allowed, compared to the 90 movements typically seen at airports of similar capacity, such as Munich. As a result, 23% of flights have been delayed today, with the average delay reaching 33 minutes. Four flights have been canceled, and yesterday, 321 flights, or 74% of the day's total, experienced delays.
This disruption comes despite a recent decree granting air traffic controllers an €11 million bonus over the summer, part of ongoing negotiations with the government. The impact of the strike is expected to continue until the dispute is resolved.
