Tourism boom pushes limits of Athens air traffic control

European air traffic control agencies are struggling to cope with a surge in tourist flights entering Greece, putting immense pressure on air traffic controllers. Since 2019, overall traffic in southeast Europe, including Greek airspace, has risen by 40% according to Eurocontrol, the air navigation safety organization. Last year, tourist arrivals in Greece reached 38 million - a 23% increase over the 2019 pre-Covid peak of 31 million.

Athens' air traffic controllers are operating at capacity, with the number of flights per day jumping from an average of 1,500 in the off-season to 2,700 in early July. Olga Toki, vice-president of the Association of Air Traffic Controllers of Greece, remarked, "There is no room for any more planes!" The communication breakdown between controllers and pilots in January highlighted the vulnerability of the system.

Authorities have launched a renovation program worth €300 million to install new digital communication systems, with completion expected by 2028. However, the shortage of staff remains a major challenge - controllers need 250 but only have 154 on duty. Shift supervisor Giorgos Stamoulakatos said, "We are desperately short of staff."

Veteran controller Areti Anastopoulos, who has worked in the field for over three decades, commented, "We guide around 20 pilots over the course of an hour. But right now, 40 are in the queue." The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has further exacerbated the situation, adding around 300 extra flights crossing Greek airspace daily.

Despite the increased workload, the controller emphasized, "What we're doing here is a superhuman attempt to keep everyone safe."