Flights to and from Athens International Airport, Eleftherios Venizelos, are expected to proceed as scheduled on Wednesday October 1 despite a nationwide general strike. Air traffic controllers, whose participation in the strike was ruled illegal by the courts, will continue working, meaning no cancellations are expected. However, passengers are advised to brace for delays, as Athens International Airport has been grappling with severe scheduling disruptions for nearly a week.
The disruption stems from a decision by air traffic controllers to limit the number of takeoffs and landings per hour due to heavy workload pressures. As a result, both domestic and international flights have been consistently delayed. On Monday September 29 alone, 21% of flights experienced delays, with waiting times ranging from 20 to 40 minutes. Over the weekend, some delays stretched to as much as two hours.
The ongoing issues have left thousands of travelers frustrated, with long queues and rescheduled itineraries becoming a daily reality at Greece’s busiest airport. For now, travelers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates and allow extra time for their journeys through Athens International Airport, where the disruption shows no signs of easing.
The nationwide strike, scheduled for October 1 will significantly disrupt daily routines in Athens and beyond. With widespread participation across sectors, residents and travelers alike should expect major delays, cancellations, and service closures throughout the day.
Boats: Ferry schedule will also be affected as the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation is joining the strike.
Public transport: Metro, electric railway, and tram services will operate between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. . Buses will run from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. with last departures before 8:00 p.m. Services operated by the private Attica transport consortium will run normally.
Taxis: Athens’ main taxi union has confirmed participation in the strike.
