Flight delays related to air traffic at Athens International Airport fell by 31.77% in June, according to data released by the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA).

As the HCAA reports, despite the significant increase in air traffic and the pressures faced by the European air traffic network, the operational impact in Greece remains limited. The authority notes that as early as Saturday, July 4, 2026, 4,925 flights were recorded, exceeding the highest level of 2025, when 4,916 flights were recorded on August 10.

The HCAA clarifies that Eurocontrol’s data mainly concern Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) delays at a European network level. It notes that these delays are influenced by increased seasonal demand as well as geopolitical developments that have altered flight flows in the wider region.

It also emphasizes that these indicators are operational monitoring tools for airspace management and should not be equated with passengers’ overall airport experience or interpreted as the average delay per flight.

According to HCAA operational data for June 2026, the average delay at the Athens–Macedonia Area Control Center (KEPATM) stood at 2.26 minutes per flight, compared to 1.62 minutes in the same month of 2025. If weather conditions and other external factors are excluded, the average delay is reduced to 0.97 minutes per flight, compared to 0.85 minutes last year.

At Athens International Airport, the average delay per flight due to air traffic in June was 4.43 minutes, compared to 6.50 minutes in the same period of 2025, recording a reduction of more than two minutes per flight.

HCAA statement

“The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) fully understands that every delay creates an inconvenience for passengers, especially during the summer period when traffic reaches its peak and the European air traffic network operates under significant pressure. We note that, as of Saturday, July 4, 2026, traffic (4,925 flights) has exceeded the highest levels of 2025 (4,916 flights on August 10). In this context, efforts to ensure the uninterrupted handling of flights are daily and continuous.

In light of recent publications, the HCAA clarifies that EUROCONTROL data mainly refer to Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) delays at a European network level. These delays are real and increased, as recorded across other European providers as well, particularly due to seasonal demand and geopolitical developments that have shifted flight flows in the wider region.

These indicators are important for operational monitoring of airspace. However, they should not be equated with the overall passenger experience at airports, nor interpreted as the average delay experienced by each flight.

According to HCAA operational data for June 2026, the average delay at the Athens–Macedonia Area Control Center (KEPATM) stood at 2.26 minutes per flight, compared to 1.62 minutes in 2025. If weather and other external factors are excluded, the average delay amounts to 0.97 minutes per flight, compared to 0.85 minutes in June 2025.

Similarly, at Athens International Airport, the average delay per flight due to air traffic in June stood at 4.43 minutes, compared to 6.50 minutes in the same period last year (a reduction of more than 2 minutes), while total delays appear reduced by 31.77%.

These figures show that, despite increased pressures on the European network and Greek airspace, the operational impact remains more limited than what may be perceived from the isolation of a single indicator.

The HCAA, recognizing the impact of delays on passengers, monitors air traffic daily, cooperates with EUROCONTROL, airport operators, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Flight Coordination Authority, and airlines, implementing all necessary operational adjustments while maintaining a high level of safety.

At the same time, staffing reinforcement is underway through the planned recruitment and training of Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs). Specifically, in 2025, 92 ATCOs were appointed, and at present the swearing-in of 51 ATCOs is underway, out of a total of 77 to be recruited in 2026.”