Tourism boom pushes limits of Athens air traffic control

Athens air traffic controllers are struggling to handle the influx of tourist flights during the peak season. Olga Toki, vice-president of the Association of Air Traffic Controllers of Greece, expressed the gravity of the situation, stating that the sky is "crazy" and there is no room for more planes. In the low season, Greek airports handle between 1,000 and 1,500 flights per day, but during the first week of July, the average increased to 2,700 flights per day.

Overall traffic in southeast Europe, including Greek airspace, has risen by about 40% from 2019, according to Eurocontrol. This surge in tourist arrivals has put immense pressure on the air traffic control system, with a Jan 4 breakdown in communication between controllers and pilots forcing the closure of Greek airspace for hours, causing chaos.

In response, a renovation program costing around €300 million (11.5 billion baht) has been announced, which includes the installation of new digital communication systems and will be completed by 2028. However, the shortage of staff remains a significant issue, with controllers expressing their desperate need for more personnel.

Even experienced controllers like Areti Anastopoulos, who has been working for over 30 years, are overwhelmed by the current workload, with 40 planes queued up to land at once, exceeding the supposed limit of 28. The Middle East war has further exacerbated the situation, adding around 300 extra flights crossing Greek airspace daily, which makes up nearly 6% of daily traffic.

Despite these challenges, tourism remains a vital contributor to Greece's economy, but more investment in air traffic control infrastructure is necessary to accommodate the growing number of planes and ensure the safety of travelers.