Flight delays continue to plague thousands of passengers in Europe, with Greece being a special case due to its dependence on tourism and its many island destinations. The phenomenon is not new, but this year it intensified, causing serious reactions from both airlines and passengers themselves.
Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline, issued a press release yesterday, Tuesday, September 16, denouncing the management and understaffing of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in Greece. According to the company, more than 6,200 of its flights have been delayed from January 1 to September 15, affecting more than 1 million passengers. Ryanair is asking the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Dimas, to immediately take measures to staff and improve air traffic services in order to avoid further delays. As the company states, the situation is “unacceptable”, especially for families and tourists who have planned their holidays.
Aegean’s proposal
For Aegean’s part, chairman Eftychis Vassilakis, speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a corporate event, admits the existence of a problem, but gives a more restrained and realistic dimension. As he stressed, the Greek market has its own particularities, with a high dependence on tourism and many islands, which make the system particularly sensitive. “There is indeed a problem in Europe as well, but here we have a special situation,” he noted, recalling that Greece already has a legislative framework in place since 2020, but the crucial thing is its implementation. He points out that Aegean is trying to approach the issue through performances, without seeking aggressive publicity, unlike other companies such as Ryanair.
Vassilakis also referred to the need for investments at all levels of the CAA, from equipment to personnel, and to the possible reorganization of the service as a legal entity under public law. The goal, as he emphasized, is the independent and effective operation of the CAA within a legal framework that will ensure resource management and staff adequacy. “With the delays, we will be hopeful when we see things happening,” he said characteristically.
The Action Plan of the Ministry of Infrastructure
Pressures on the government regarding the CAA also come from the opposition, at the level of parliamentary action. The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Dimas, responding to Current Questions from SYRIZA State Member of Parliament Elena Akrita and Independent Member of Parliament B3 South Sector of Athens Rallia Christidou, presented the initiatives for the modernization of Greek air navigation. He presented the new three-year Action Plan (2025–2028), which includes the administrative reform of the Hellenic Aviation Authority, its staffing and the modernization of air navigation systems.
A pan-European issue
The Greek case is part of the broader context of delays in European airspace, where congestion at airports and a lack of personnel have become a phenomenon in recent years. According to analysts, Europe is called upon to find solutions to strengthen air traffic services, while Greece must adapt the system to the increased demands of the tourist season, especially in areas with a large number of small airports.
Overall, delays are not only a problem for passengers, but also for airlines, which are called upon to manage the financial and operational consequences. The confrontation between Ryanair and Greek authorities reveals the intensity of the pressures, while the statements of Eftychis Vassilakis highlight the complexity of the Greek reality and the importance of cooperation with the competent authorities.
The solution, as it seems, will require both political will and substantial investments in personnel and infrastructure, in order for the Greek and European aviation market to return to levels of reliability that satisfy companies and passengers.
