Athens air traffic control faces record flight volumes

Athens air traffic control is facing extreme pressure due to a record volume of flights, pushing the capacity of Greek airspace to its limits. During the summer peak, the daily average of flights surged to approximately 2,700, a significant increase from the 1,000 to 1,500 flights typically handled during winter months.

This surge is attributed to a massive rise in Greek tourism, which saw 38 million arrivals last year, a 23% increase over the previous record set in 2019. Data from Eurocontrol indicates that air traffic in Southeast Europe has grown by 40% compared to 2019 levels.

Following a serious technical failure on January 4 that paralyzed voice communications and forced the temporary closure of Greek airspace, a 300 million euro modernization program has been accelerated. The plan includes replacing aging radar systems and installing new digital communication systems to prevent future disruptions.