Traveling to Greece? Be aware of delayed and cancelled flights

It looks like workers in the transport industry decided to fight for their rights at the end of the spring season. Multiple labor unions have announced that air traffic controllers (ATC) and the railway workers in Athens will hold a 3 hours strike on the 30th of May.

by Skycop team

2018-05-30
7:15 AM GMT

Aviation

As was reported, due to rail workers strike there will be no connection between the city of Athens and Athens International Airport. The Panhellenic Seamen‘s Union (PNO) has announced that business, public transit, and commercial routes disruptions are also likely to occur. Due to these strikes, flight disruptions can be expected.

Several major labor unions (including the Civil Servants‘ Confederation, General Confederation of Greek Labor and Panhellenic Seamen‘s Union) have called their members to start a strike action. ATC and the railway workers are protesting because of the reforms implemented by the government, which include increasing taxes, austerity measures and evaluations of public sector workers – the unions fear this might simply be the reason for firing employees.

Unfortunately, air passengers will not be compensated for these flight disruptions. According to EC 261/2004 Regulation strikes are considered as “extraordinary circumstances”.

“A number of strikes are increasing every year. Unfortunately, passengers usually have their flights delayed or even cancelled because of these actions. Even during this kind of flight disruptions, passengers have their rights. Carriers need to take care of their customers according to the EC 261/2004 regulation and provide them with free meals and drinks, access to two free calls, let use e-mail or send a free fax. When passengers have to wait for a flight for one or more nights – they must be granted free accommodation in a hotel, including transport to/from the airport,” comments Marius Stonkus, the CEO of flight compensation company Skycop.