In short: Flying to Greece from elsewhere in Europe, a delay of 3 hours or more is worth €250–€400 per passenger on typical routes (EU261, any airline); from the UK £350 under UK261. On the way home, EU261 covers every flight leaving Greece.
Your rights each way
| Direction | Rules | Covered airlines | 3h+ delay / late cancellation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Another EU/EEA country or Switzerland → Greece | EU261 | any airline | €250–€400 |
| Greece → another EU/EEA country or Switzerland | EU261 | any airline | €250–€400 |
| UK → Greece | UK261 | any airline | £350 |
| Greece → UK | EU261 | any airline | €400 |
| Outside Europe → Greece | EU261 | only an EU airline | by distance, up to €600 |
Amounts are per passenger and depend on the great-circle distance between your airports – the ranges cover the busiest routes. Whatever the cause, from 2 hours’ delay the airline must provide meals and drinks, and a hotel if you are stuck overnight – where EU261 or UK261 applies. Living in Greece or flying from there? See how to claim in Greece.
Check your flight to or from Greece
Two minutes, free, no sign-up.
Airports in Greece
| Airport | Passengers 2024* | ATFM delay per arrival 2025 | Main cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens (ATH) | 27,483,658 | 5.46 min | ATC capacity (91%) |
| Crete Heraklion (HER) | 8,069,480 | 3.93 min | aerodrome capacity (99%) |
| Thessaloniki (SKG) | 6,652,972 | 0.11 min | other (42%) |
| Rhodes (RHO) | 5,430,408 | 0.59 min | ATC capacity (98%) |
| Corfu (CFU) | 3,824,866 | 2.10 min | aerodrome capacity (82%) |
| Crete Chania (CHQ) | 3,514,302 | 8.17 min | ATC capacity (100%) |
| Santorini (JTR) | 2,629,671 | 0.18 min | ATC capacity (89%) |
| Kos (KGS) | 2,606,928 | 1.56 min | ATC capacity (90%) |
| Zakynthos (ZTH) | 1,818,314 | 3.95 min | ATC capacity (99%) |
| Mykonos (JMK) | 1,378,685 | 1.78 min | aerodrome capacity (59%) |
| Kefalonia (EFL) | 703,880 | 5.59 min | ATC capacity (99%) |
| Preveza (Lefkada) (PVK) | 586,572 | 0.49 min | ATC capacity (99%) |
| Lesbos (MJT) | 489,062 | – | – |
| Skiathos (JSI) | 402,695 | 0.05 min | ATC capacity (100%) |
| Paros (PAS) | 397,214 | – | – |
| Samos (SMI) | 371,289 | – | – |
| Alexandroupolis (AXD) | 306,377 | – | – |
| Chios Island (JKH) | 305,165 | – | – |
| Kalamata (KLX) | 229,417 | – | – |
| Kavala (KVA) | 226,538 | – | – |
| Naxos (JNX) | 210,235 | – | – |
| Karpathos (AOK) | 156,740 | – | – |
| Milos Island (MLO) | 128,933 | – | – |
| Limnos Island (LXS) | 112,308 | – | – |
| Ioannina (IOA) | 98,061 | – | – |
| Patras (GPA) | 81,567 | – | – |
* Passengers on routes reported to Eurostat (both directions).
Routes from the UK to Greece
From the UK: in the CAA’s 2025 data the busiest Greek destinations from UK airports were Athens, Rhodes, Corfu, Heraklion (Crete), Kos and Zakynthos. Flights departing from Greece are covered by EU261 whatever the airline; flights from the UK to Greece by UK261; flights from Greece to the UK by EU261.
Punctuality of the busiest routes in 2025, from UK Civil Aviation Authority data (departures from UK airports).
| Route | Flights | On time | 3h+ late | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Heathrow – Athens | 6,035 | 74.8% | 0.11% | 0.89% |
| London Gatwick – Athens | 2,976 | 61.8% | 0.33% | 0.73% |
| London Gatwick – Corfu | 2,075 | 60.3% | 0.82% | 0.24% |
| London Gatwick – Crete | 2,028 | 51.2% | 0.44% | 0.69% |
| London Gatwick – Rhodes | 2,009 | 47.8% | 1.04% | 0.54% |
| Manchester – Rhodes | 1,478 | 39.1% | 0.67% | 0.54% |
| Manchester – Corfu | 1,281 | 47.4% | 0.62% | 0.16% |
| Manchester – Crete | 1,233 | 41.9% | 0.97% | 0.32% |
| London Gatwick – Thessaloniki | 1,174 | 69.8% | 0.68% | 1.10% |
| Manchester – Athens | 1,092 | 43.4% | 0.91% | 0.73% |
| London Stansted – Athens | 1,027 | 57.4% | 0.78% | 0.68% |
Busiest European routes
- Athens – Thessaloniki1,649,094 pax
- Athens – Crete Heraklion1,452,941 pax
- Athens – Santorini1,377,866 pax
- Athens – Larnaca1,365,755 pax
- Istanbul – Athens981,717 pax
- Rome Fiumicino – Athens898,550 pax
- Athens – Crete Chania818,996 pax
- Paris Charles de Gaulle – Athens807,564 pax
- Athens – Rhodes763,781 pax
- Munich – Athens744,703 pax
- Frankfurt – Athens716,448 pax
- Athens – Milan Malpensa661,894 pax
- Amsterdam Schiphol – Athens632,880 pax
- Athens – Mykonos568,257 pax
- Athens – Vienna549,170 pax
- Athens – Zurich529,937 pax
- Madrid Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas – Athens501,441 pax
- Barcelona El Prat – Athens445,594 pax
- Athens – Corfu409,405 pax
- Athens – Brussels Zaventem407,553 pax
Why flights to Greece are delayed
In 2025, air traffic flow restrictions held back arrivals at Greece’s airports by 3.75 minutes per flight on average (EUROCONTROL, 13 airports). The worst month was May. Air traffic control strikes affected arrivals on 1 day since 2024, most recently 27 February 2024.
Causes of air traffic flow delay (2025)
Average ATFM delay per arrival by month (min)
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
Weather and air traffic control restrictions are usually extraordinary circumstances – but the airline must show they caused your delay. Check what happened on your travel day.
Strikes
- 2026-11-25: public sector (ADEDY) – nationwide (uncertain)
Most Greek strikes that touch air travel are 24-hour national strikes called by ADEDY (public sector) or GSEE (private sector), often weeks ahead. Flights are only grounded if the air traffic controllers – public employees represented by EEEKE – join, which is often announced just days before; courts have repeatedly declared their participation illegal at the last minute (for example on 30 September 2025). When controllers do strike, only essential flights operate, such as overflights and state, medical and humanitarian flights.
Strikes in Greece · Strike calendar
Where to complain
- The airline first – in writing, with your booking reference. Use our complaint letter generator.
- National enforcement body: Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA), Passenger Rights and Air Carriers Operating Licensing Section – Contact the airline first; filing a complaint with the HCAA is free..
- Dispute resolution: The Hellenic Consumer Ombudsman (Synigoros tou Katanaloti) mediates between consumers and businesses, including airlines; it has published cases in which its mediation led an airline to pay compensation after a cancellation. Contact the airline first.
- From the UK: if you flew from a UK airport or with a UK airline, you can also use UK ADR, the CAA or the small claims court.
Tips for flying to Greece
- In EUROCONTROL’s 2025 data, air traffic control capacity accounted for roughly four-fifths of arrival flow-control delay at Greek airports. Chania and Athens had the highest averages, followed by Zakynthos and Heraklion, which peaked in August.
- Whether a Greek strike grounds flights is often decided a day or two before, by the controllers or a court. Do not cancel your trip early: if the airline does not cancel your flight, you have no right to a refund.
- On islands with few flights, ask the airline in writing for the earliest alternative – including another airline or a nearby airport – and keep a copy.
- Air traffic control delays are normally extraordinary circumstances, so no compensation is due for them – but the airline must still provide meals, refreshments and, if needed, a hotel.
Frequently asked questions
Am I covered on a flight to Greece?
From anywhere in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, yes: EU261 covers every departing flight, whatever the airline – €250–€400 per passenger on typical routes if you arrive 3 hours or more late. From the UK, UK261 covers every departing flight (£350). From outside Europe you are covered only on an EU airline.
Am I covered on the flight home from Greece?
Greece applies EU261 to every departing flight, so you are covered with any airline (€250–€400 on typical routes).
Who enforces passenger rights in Greece?
Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA), Passenger Rights and Air Carriers Operating Licensing Section – Contact the airline first; filing a complaint with the HCAA is free.. Complain to the airline first; if it rejects you or does not answer, you can turn to this body. All national enforcement bodies.
Are strikes covered?
It depends whose staff are on strike. Air traffic control or airport strikes are usually extraordinary circumstances; strikes by the airline’s own staff are not (CJEU C-28/20). See strikes and compensation.
Data: Eurostat 2024, EUROCONTROL, UK Civil Aviation Authority 2025. Information only, not legal advice.
Sources
- National enforcement bodies under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (updated 13 October 2026) – European Commission
- Complaint submission procedure – Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority
- Hellenic Consumer Ombudsman – Συνήγορος του Καταναλωτή
- Successful mediation: airline pays after flight cancellation (16 June 2026) – Συνήγορος του Καταναλωτή
- Greek air traffic controllers join nationwide strike, disrupting flights (1 April 2025) – iefimerida.gr
- Flights operating normally on Wednesday: air traffic controllers’ strike declared illegal (30 September 2025) – Proto Thema
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – full text (Article 3: scope; recital 15: air traffic management decisions) – EUR-Lex
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as it applies in the UK (UK261) – Article 3, scope – legislation.gov.uk
- UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 (flights by destination from UK airports) – UK Civil Aviation Authority
- Airport arrival ATFM (flow-control) delay data, 2024–2025 – EUROCONTROL Aviation Intelligence Unit
- Air passenger transport by reporting airport (avia_par), 2024 – Eurostat
- Eurostat – air passenger transport routes between partner airports and main airports (2024) – Eurostat
- EUROCONTROL – airport arrival ATFM delays (open performance data) – EUROCONTROL
- UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 – UK Civil Aviation Authority
We check every rule against the sources above. Spotted an error? Tell us – see our editorial policy.