Thousands of Brits set to have holidays ruined by Greek airport strikes

The walkout is organised by ADEDY as part of a general public sector strike (Image: Getty)

Brits travelling to Greece for the last dose of sunshine this summer should look out for upcoming strikes at Greek airports. Tomorrow, Greece will be hit by a four-hour nationwide air traffic controllers' strike, halting all commercial flights at every Greek airport between 09:30 and 13:30 local time. The walkout, organised by ADEDY as part of a general public sector strike, will affect all airports in Greece.

Aviation experts at AirAdvisor predict that nearly 100 UK originating flights will be disrupted, impacting approximately 16,000-18,000 Brits. Key airports include all London airports, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol and Birmingham. According to AirAdvisor, airlines such as easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, Jet2, and TUI will face the most significant disruptions.

Air traffic controllers in Greece will strike on Thursday, August 28 (Image: Getty)

The strike coincides with return peaks, affecting thousands of Brits. For summer plans, this will delay returns by four to six hours, the passenger rights company predicts. The stoppage could boost extended stays by 5-10%, as passengers postpone returns to avoid delays.

AirAdvisor further estimates that this will affect UK airports like Heathrow, which may see a backlog from returning flights. However, the overall impact should be minor. As the strikes are outside the airlines' control, no cash compensation is owed to passengers. The protests might also increase the risk of baggage disruptions due to reroutings and cancellations.

Anton Radchenko, Aviation Expert & Founder at AirAdvisor said: "The Greek air traffic control strike on August 28 is one of the most disruptive types of industrial action because it paralyses the very infrastructure that all airlines depend on. Unlike an airline strike, where other carriers can often step in, here the entire airspace is effectively restricted, leaving passengers with almost no alternative options. For UK travellers, this means the risk of last-minute cancellations on some of the busiest summer routes: flights to Athens, Rhodes, and Crete that are already running at near capacity.

"If your flight is cancelled, the airline must reroute you on the next available service and provide meals and accommodation if you’re stranded. Don’t accept vouchers unless they suit you and request refunds if necessary. Also, monitor alternative airports like Thessaloniki or smaller regional gateways that may have limited but still functioning operations."