Tourism boom pushes limits of Athens air traffic control

The bustling summer season is putting enormous strain on Greece's air traffic control system, with the number of flights soaring to unprecedented levels. Olga Toki, vice-president of the Association of Air Traffic Controllers of Greece, said it bluntly: "There is no room for any more planes in the sky!" In the low season, Greek airports typically handle 1,000 to 1,500 flights per day, but in the first week of July alone, they processed an average of 2,700 flights.

The overall traffic in southeast Europe has surged by about 40% compared to 2019, driven by a 23% increase in tourist arrivals, with 38 million visitors last year.

The pressure on air traffic controllers became painfully apparent in January when a breakdown in the communication system linking pilots and controllers left Greek airspace grounded for hours, causing a cascade of flight cancellations and diversions. In response, a renovation program costing around €300 million has been launched, including the installation of new digital communication systems.

However, controllers are facing a severe staffing shortage, with only 154 workers needed to manage 10 sectors of Greek airspace, while the ideal number is 250. New controllers require five years of training.

Despite the Herculean efforts of controllers, delays are becoming increasingly common. Areti Anastopoulos, a seasoned air traffic controller, recounted the recent sight of 33 planes landing in an hour, exceeding the 28-plane limit. She has had to order planes to slow down or change their trajectories to prevent accidents. The recent Middle East war has exacerbated the situation, adding around 300 extra flights crossing Greek airspace daily, accounting for nearly 6% of daily traffic.

Passengers and locals alike are feeling the impact. Jose Lopez, a recent visitor from Barcelona, noted that long delays are not unusual in August, with his own flights experiencing worse delays. A valet at a major Athens hotel lamented that delays have become more frequent than the previous year, with some clients waiting up to seven hours. While tourism remains a vital source of value for Greece, controller Anastopoulos acknowledged that more flights without additional investment is simply not feasible.