ATHENS, June 28 (BalkanView) – Greek airports are once again experiencing significant delays at the height of the summer tourism season, as shortages of air traffic controllers, aging aviation infrastructure and limited airspace capacity continue to strain the country’s air transport system.
Thousands of passengers have been affected by flight delays and extended waiting times after the seasonal surge in tourism placed renewed pressure on Greece’s aviation network. Following a temporary easing during the winter months, when air traffic volumes were lower, disruptions intensified again in May.
At the center of the problem are capacity constraints within Greece’s air traffic control systems, operated by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority, as well as persistent staffing shortages. Additional disruptions have been caused by technical failures involving navigation equipment, some of which dates back to the 1990s.
A recent malfunction in the approach radar system at Athens International Airport temporarily reduced landing capacity from 28 to 24 aircraft per hour, causing further disruptions at the country’s busiest airport.
According to the latest data from the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (Eurocontrol), Greece accounted for 12% of all flight delays across the European aviation network between June 15 and June 21, making it the fourth most congested airspace area in Europe during that period.
During the same week, Greece ranked among the ten busiest aviation networks in Europe, handling an average of 2,453 flights per day. Athens airport has experienced the greatest pressure due to the concentration of passenger and aircraft traffic.
Greek authorities are also assessing ways to improve the coordination of takeoff and landing slots, as much of the congestion occurs during morning hours when demand routinely exceeds available capacity.
Additional delays have been linked to the European Union’s new Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires the collection of biometric data from travelers who are not EU citizens. Average border control processing times have increased to around 90 seconds per passenger, compared with approximately 20 seconds previously.
With the summer travel season still approaching its peak, aviation experts warn that pressure on Greece’s air transport infrastructure could intensify further during July and August.