Alpha News

Greek Airspace Gradually Returning to Normal After Major Disruptions

Published January 4, 2026, 13:17

After an unprecedented issue with radio frequencies led to almost complete disruption of air traffic in Greece, normalcy is gradually returning to Greek airports. The problem began around 9:30 am on Sunday, causing flight delays and cancellations, and leaving thousands of passengers stranded. By noon, limited permission was granted for takeoffs and landings, prioritizing flights north, east, and south. At Athens Airport, 8 departures returned to their positions, 3 arrivals were diverted to other airports, 4 flights were canceled, and a total of 75 flights were delayed. The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) is coordinating with relevant authorities and EUROCONTROL to fully restore the systems. Currently, up to 35 departures and arrivals are being served, as well as partial transit traffic in three sectors. Air traffic controllers attribute the problem to outdated systems, while OTE announced that the initial check did not reveal any technical issues in its circuits. The HCAA continues to investigate the issue, which is described as unprecedented, and further announcements will be made. An updated NOTAM has been issued for pilots. The problem caused chaos and inconvenience to passengers, with images of overcrowding being recorded at Athens Airport. The situation also affected flights to and from Cyprus, creating a 'hole' in the map of air traffic over Greece.