Flight delays are increasing across Greek Airports as the peak summer travel season places mounting pressure on the country’s air traffic management system, with controller shortages, aging infrastructure and growing passenger demand disrupting airport operations.
Thousands of travellers have experienced longer waiting times since delays began rising again in May after a relatively smooth winter period. Lower flight volumes during the off-season had temporarily eased pressure on Greece’s aviation network, but the return of summer tourism has exposed longstanding operational challenges.
At the heart of the disruption is the limited capacity of Greece’s air traffic control system, managed by the Civil Aviation Authority, alongside a shortage of qualified air traffic controllers. The situation has been compounded by repeated failures of air navigation equipment, much of which dates back to the 1990s.
One recent incident involved the approach radar serving Athens International Airport, where a technical malfunction temporarily deprived controllers of radar imagery. The failure reduced the airport’s arrival capacity from 28 to 24 aircraft per hour until the system was restored the following morning, causing knock-on delays across the country’s busiest airport.
According to Eurocontrol, Greece accounted for 12% of all air traffic delays across the European aviation network during the week of 15–21 June, making it the fourth most congested region in Europe. Throughout the summer season, the country has consistently ranked among the five most delay-prone airspace areas on the continent.
Despite the operational challenges, Greece remains one of Europe’s busiest aviation markets. During the same week, the country handled an average of 2,453 flights per day, ranking among the continent’s 10 busiest air traffic networks. Athens continues to experience the greatest congestion, particularly during morning peak periods when scheduled demand regularly exceeds available air traffic control capacity.
Authorities are also reviewing airport slot coordination and the distribution of flights throughout the day in an effort to reduce congestion during the busiest operating hours.
International travellers from outside the European Union are facing additional delays at passport control following the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES). The new border procedure requires biometric data collection, increasing average inspection times from around 20 seconds to approximately 90 seconds per passenger and adding further pressure to airport operations during the summer travel season.
