The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) fully understands that every delay creates inconvenience for passengers, especially during the summer period, when traffic is at its highest and the European air traffic network operates under particular pressure.
In its announcement, the HCAA notes that, as of Saturday, July 4, 2026, traffic (4,925 flights) has surpassed the highest figures of 2025 (4,916 flights, on August 10). In this context, the effort to ensure the smooth handling of flights is daily and ongoing.
On the occasion of recent publications, the HCAA clarifies that the EUROCONTROL data mainly concern air traffic flow management (ATFM) delays at the level of the European network. These delays are real and increased, as recorded by other European providers as well, mainly due to seasonal demand and geopolitical developments, which have altered flight flows in the wider region.
These indicators are important for the operational monitoring of the airspace. However, they should not be equated with the overall passenger experience at airports, nor interpreted as the average delay time faced by each flight.
According to the HCAA's operational data for June 2026, the average delay at the Athens – Macedonia Area Control Center (KEPATHM) was 2.26 minutes per flight, compared to 1.62 minutes in 2025. Excluding weather and other external causes, the average delay amounts to 0.97 minutes per flight, compared to 0.85 minutes in June 2025.
Similarly, at the Athens International Airport, the average delay per flight due to air traffic in June was 4.43 minutes, compared to 6.50 minutes (a reduction of more than 2 minutes) in the corresponding period last year, while total delays appear reduced by 31.77%.
This data shows that, despite increased pressures on the European network and Greek airspace, the operational impact remains more limited than the impression that may be created by isolating a single indicator, the HCAA announcement concludes.
The HCAA, recognizing the impact that delays have on the traveling public, monitors the evolution of air traffic daily, cooperates with EUROCONTROL, airport management bodies, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Flight Coordination Authority, and airlines, implementing every necessary operational adjustment while maintaining a high level of safety.
At the same time, staffing reinforcement is underway, through the prescribed procedures for the recruitment and training of air traffic controllers (ATCOs). Specifically, in 2025, 92 ATCOs were appointed and currently the swearing-in of 51 ATCOs is being scheduled, out of a total of 77 to be recruited in 2026.