Popular European destination to strike grounding 80 UK flights and stranding thousands
A popular European holiday destination is set for chaos next week, as a 24-hour stirke impacting UK flights is due to take place.
Greece’s air traffic controllers are set to ground all flights on April 9, 2025, in a 24-hour strike, just 11 days before Easter. The latest walkout will cancel 70-80 UK flights, stranding 11,200-12,800 Brits.
This nationwide strike is being organised by public sector union, ADEDY, who are demanding the reinstatement of 13th and 14th salaries — financial boosts paid on top of saalries — for public sector workers, which includes the Greek Air Traffic Controllers Association (EEEKE).
According to the experts at AirAdvisor, an air passenger rights company, easyJet, British Airways, Ryanair, and TUI Airways passengers will mostly bear the brunt of this strike action. For easyJet more than 20 flights could be impacted, around 15 for British Airways and Ryanair, around 10 for TUI Airways and over 20 flights from other carriers including Aegean Airlines, Air France and Lufthansa.
The key routes expected to be impacted include direct flights from UK airports such as London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Birmingham to Greek airports like Athens, Heraklion, Thessaloniki, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, and Corfu.
Greece is a major transit airspace hub for flights to the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. So, UK passengers flying to these destinations could also face disruptions due to reroutes.
The ATC strikes on February 28, 2025, increased ferry bookings by 50-70 per cent and hotel rates by 30-50 per cent within 48 hours, so this strike is no different. With Easter on April 20, this April 9 strike triggers a ‘peak season premium’, according to AriAdvisor, which means prices could double for last-minute bookings. Taking this into consideration, rebooking costs could to jump 50-100 per cent higher than before. Last-minute ferry fares to Santorini, for example, spiked from £60 to £120 during past strikes.
To offset the impact of this industrial action, AirAdvisor has created a ‘strike survival map’ for UK tourists, listing alternative entry points to Greece and ferry/train routes to popular destinations. For instance, passengers could fly London to Sofia (£50-£80, three hours), then bus to Thessaloniki (£20-£30, five hours, FlixBus) — in total it would cost between £70 and £110, compared to £200 to £300 rebooking.
Anton Radchenko, aviation expert and founder of AirAdvisor has some valuable insight in response to these strikes. He said: “Since 2023, two-three ATC strikes have affected Greece every year. This shows that its airspace is a ticking time bomb, especially for island hoppers. Keep in mind that not every strike action is created equal. Air traffic control strikes are uniquely disruptive because ATC is the backbone of aviation operations—without it, flights cannot take off, land, or safely navigate airspace.
“Since Easter is just round the corner, Greece’s island-heavy travel makes this strike a nightmare. With flights grounded, there will be increased congestion on ferries, substantially raising their prices close to the festival. So, the right time to book is now, or it will be too late.
“Plus, with holiday travel in full swing, this strike will cause widespread ripple effects as delays stack up, missed connections rise, and crew scheduling issues persist. And it’s not just limited to that. Remember, Greece is a highly popular holiday destination, so with its airspace affected, other ATC centers (in Italy or Turkey) will get flooded with extra traffic. This increased pressure on controllers in nearby countries risks potentially slowing down the entire European flight network.
“My top advice to passengers is to book alternatives now. Immediate action is the key here. Keep an eye on your flight status and sign up for SMS/email alerts for the quickest updates. If your flight gets cancelled, act fast, as rebookings will fill quickly. Also, pack essentials such as snacks and water, and keep extra cash. Given the strike’s proximity to Easter, tourist areas will be crowded, and delays will extend waiting times, so it makes sense to be prepared.
“It’s also important to note that passengers will not receive any financial compensation because these strikes fall in the bracket of extraordinary circumstances, which is outside the airline’s control. However, under EU/261 regulation, you’re entitled to free meals, accommodation, and transit to and from the hotel/airport. So, make sure you’re proactive in getting that.”
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