By Oscar Woods 
Air travel to and from Greece faces repeated disruptions as air traffic controllers continue joining nationwide labor actions. Multiple strikes throughout 2025 and into 2026 have grounded flights, stranded passengers, and exposed deeper issues within the country’s aviation infrastructure.
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Recent Strike Activity Grounds Hundreds of Flights
The most significant disruption occurred on April 9, 2025, when a 24 hour general strike brought Greece’s aviation network to a complete standstill. Air traffic controllers joined public and private sector unions in protesting wage concerns and collective bargaining rights. Athens International Airport announced that no commercial flights would operate during the entire 24 hour period.
According to Euronews, commercial flights to and from Greece and between domestic destinations were cancelled from midnight to midnight. Major carriers Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air cancelled nearly all scheduled services, with only limited exceptions for medical, search and rescue, humanitarian aid, and military operations.
The disruption extended beyond Greek borders. Sofia Airport in Bulgaria reported four cancelled flights between Athens and Sofia on that single day. The ripple effects impacted travelers across southeastern Europe who rely on Athens as a connection hub.
January 2026 Strike Affects Cyprus Routes
More recently, on January 2, 2026, Greek air traffic controllers participated in another 24 hour national strike that particularly affected Cyprus. According to VisaHQ, 27 rotations at Larnaca Airport and four services at Paphos Airport were cancelled, with seven additional flights rescheduled. The walkout was part of broader union demands for wage increases, new collective bargaining agreements, and reinstatement of 13th and 14th month salaries.
The unions also highlighted chronic staffing shortages and aging surveillance equipment struggling to handle post pandemic traffic increases. Athens routes alone accounted for more than 800,000 seats to Cyprus in 2025, making them the island’s largest business travel market.
Technical Failures Compound Strike Disruptions
Beyond labor actions, Greece’s aviation system faced a serious technical crisis on January 4, 2026. A radio frequency communication failure at the Athens and Macedonia Area Control Centers suspended all flights for several hours. The system breakdown affected the central frequencies that pilots use to communicate with air traffic control when entering Greek airspace.
According to ABC News, Greek officials said the outage was unlikely to be a cyberattack, though investigations continue. Panagiotis Psaros, president of the Air Traffic Controllers Association, told state media the equipment was “virtually ancient.” The technical failure grounded flights at Athens International Airport and regional airports, forcing aircraft already in the air to use manual landing procedures or divert to neighboring countries including Italy, Turkey, and Cyprus.
Operations gradually resumed by afternoon as backup frequencies came online. However, the incident reinforced long standing warnings from aviation unions about outdated radar and communication systems unable to keep pace with growing traffic demands.
Some Planned Strikes Blocked by Courts
Not all threatened strike actions have proceeded. Greek courts intervened twice in 2025 to prevent air traffic disruptions. In August 2025, the Athens Court of First Instance ruled a four hour work stoppage illegal, allowing flights to operate normally during peak holiday season. Similarly, in October 2025, a court ruling blocked air traffic controllers from participating in a broader general strike, ensuring flights operated on schedule despite widespread disruptions to ferries, public transport, and taxis.
These court decisions highlight ongoing tensions between labor rights and service continuity, particularly during high traffic tourism periods that are essential to Greece’s economy.
February 2025 Strike Commemorated Railway Disaster
A February 28, 2025 strike carried particular significance as it marked the second anniversary of the Tempi railway disaster that claimed 57 lives. The general strike brought widespread transport cancellations. According to Travel Noire, Aegean Airlines cancelled all domestic and international flights that day, while Sky Express cancelled all services except rescheduled flights between Larnaca and Thessaloniki.
The effects extended to February 27 and March 1 as airlines worked to reschedule passengers. Many travelers adjusted itineraries to avoid the strike day, particularly those planning trips around Clean Monday, a Greek public holiday on March 3.
What This Means for Travelers
Greece flights cancelled strikes have become a recurring concern for anyone planning travel to or through the country. Air traffic controllers cite legitimate infrastructure concerns, including equipment that cannot handle modern traffic volumes and staffing levels below what safety requires.
Travelers booking Greece itineraries should monitor strike announcements from major unions including ADEDY and GSEE. Airlines typically offer flexible rebooking options during strike periods. Aegean and Olympic Air have established policies allowing passengers to change tickets without fees or fare differences when strikes affect their flights.
The pattern of strikes reflects broader labor disputes over wages, working conditions, and the legacy of austerity measures imposed during Greece’s financial crisis. Public sector workers seek restoration of benefits cut during international bailouts, including 13th and 14th month salaries and full collective bargaining rights.
Looking Ahead
Aviation labor disputes in Greece show no signs of quick resolution. The combination of aging infrastructure, staffing concerns, and unresolved wage negotiations suggests continued potential for disruptions. The January 2026 technical failure added urgency to union calls for system modernization, as the breakdown demonstrated that Greece’s air traffic control equipment struggles to meet current demands.
For passengers, the situation requires flexibility and contingency planning. Booking refundable tickets, purchasing travel insurance, and maintaining backup travel dates can help minimize disruption from greece flights cancelled strikes. Checking airline notifications 24 to 48 hours before departure has become standard practice for Greece bound travelers.
The strikes have also exposed Greece’s dependence on air connectivity for tourism and business. With tourism representing a major portion of the economy, extended flight disruptions carry significant economic consequences that pressure both unions and government toward eventual resolution.
Until infrastructure improvements occur and labor agreements reach acceptable terms, travelers should expect periodic disruptions to continue affecting Greece flights cancelled strikes across the aviation network.