Potential travel chaos in Greece as more strikes announced
Ferry travel in Greece will be disrupted for a further two days this week after the seamen’s union announced a second 48-hour strike.
The Panhellenic Seamen Federation members, who walked out for 48 hours yesterday, will go on strike again on May 18 and 19.
The UK Foreign Office (FCO) is warning that all passenger ferry services across Greece are likely to be cancelled for a further two days as a result. Ships will remain in ports, it said.
Flights will also be disrupted this morning due to a four-hour strike by Greece’s air traffic controllers, starting at 11am.
The FCO said the strike would hit all international and domestic flights.
As a result, the national airline Olympic has cancelled or rescheduled dozens of flights across Greece. British Airways said it had retimed a number of its flights to avoid the strike period and put larger aircraft o some routes to and from Athens today. EasyJet said it had proactively cancelled some flights to Greece due to the strike.
Greece’s two biggest trade unions, the General Confederation of Greek Workers and the Civil Servants’ Confederation, are also stating a 24-hour national strike today, which has hit public transport.
There will be no rail or metro train services to or from Athens airport. Buses are running, but are likely to be busy.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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