Air traffic controllers' strike in Greece affects travel at the start of the holiday season
Just in time for the start of the Easter holidays in several German federal states, there is a risk of significant disruption to air traffic to Greece. Greek air traffic controllers have announced a 9-hour strike for Wednesday, April 2025, 24. This is expected to result in numerous flight cancellations and delays, which will particularly affect holidaymakers planning to spend their Easter holidays in Greece. In February, there were already strikes by airport staff at Greek airports over similar wage demands as those in Germany. Air passenger rights expert Nina Staub from AirHelp pointed out that in the event of a strike by airport staff, passengers are generally not entitled to compensation under the European Air Passenger Rights Regulation, as this is considered an extraordinary circumstance beyond the control of the airlines. This means that those affected cannot claim flat-rate compensation of up to 600 euros per person for canceled or significantly delayed flights. However, affected travelers still have rights. In the event of a delay of more than five hours or a cancellation, passengers are entitled to a refund of the ticket price or to alternative transportation at the earliest possible time. Airlines usually offer rebooking on another flight in such cases. According to a 2020 ruling by the European Court of Justice, airlines are also obliged to rebook passengers on the fastest possible route, if necessary with another airline or via indirect connections. If the airline does not offer a suitable alternative, passengers can seek their own transportation and charge the airline for the costs. Prior consultation with the airline is advisable. In addition, airlines must
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