TUI, easyJet, Ryanair and British Airways passengers are being warned to brace for major travel disruption this week due to strikes in Greece.

In a set of urgent advice issued to Brits on Tuesday titled ‘Major travel warning for Brits as Greek ATC strikes to ground 70-80 UK flights on 9th April’, experts at AirAdvisor warned Brits about serious disruption on Wednesday, April 9.

Greece’s air traffic controllers (ATC) are set to ground all flights on Wednesday, April 9, in a 24-hour strike. The nationwide strike is being organised by public sector union ADEDY to demand the reinstatement of 13th and 14th salaries for public sector workers, which includes the Greek Air Traffic Controllers Association (EEEKE). Experts at AirAdvisor, the world’s leading air passenger rights company, say the walkout will impact up to 80 direct flights from the UK to Greece, affecting around 12,800 passengers.

AirAdviser says TUI, easyJet, Ryanair and British Airways passengers will mostly bear the brunt of the strike action, with routes from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham and London Luton to Greek airports affected.

Greece is also a major transit airspace hub for flights to the Middle East, Asia and Australia, so UK passengers flying to these destinations may also face disruptions due to reroutes.

Experts at AirAdviser recommend signing up for SMS or email alerts to keep track of flight statuses and to pack essentials like snacks, extra money and water, in case of major delays.

Anton Radchenko, Aviation expert & Founder of AirAdvisor, said: “Since 2023, two-three ATC strikes have affected Greece every year. This shows that its airspace is a ticking time bomb, especially for island hoppers. 

“Keep in mind that not every strike action is created equal. Air traffic control strikes are uniquely disruptive because ATC is the backbone of aviation operations - without it, flights cannot take off, land, or safely navigate airspace. Since Easter is just round the corner, Greece’s island-heavy travel makes this strike a nightmare. With flights grounded, there will be increased congestion on ferries, substantially raising their prices close to the festival.

“Plus, with holiday travel in full swing, this strike will cause widespread ripple effects as delays stack up, missed connections rise, and crew scheduling issues persist. And it’s not just limited to that. Remember, Greece is a highly popular holiday destination, so with its airspace affected, other ATC centers (in Italy or Turkey) will get flooded with extra traffic. This increased pressure on controllers in nearby countries risks potentially slowing down the entire European flight network.

“My top advice to passengers is to book alternatives now. Immediate action is the key here. Keep an eye on your flight status and sign up for SMS/email alerts for the quickest updates. If your flight gets cancelled, act fast, as rebookings will fill quickly. Also, pack essentials such as snacks and water, and keep extra cash. Given the strike’s proximity to Easter, tourist areas will be crowded, and delays will extend waiting times, so it makes sense to be prepared.”

AirAdvisor adds that passengers won’t receive compensation if flights are disrupted as the strike action is not under the control of airlines. Under EU261 regulation, compensation is only due where airlines are directly responsible for disruptions. 

But passengers are entitled to care and assistance if the delay exceeds two hours for short-haul flights, three hours for medium-haul, and four hours for long-haul flights. This may include free meals and accommodation if an overnight stay is needed, and transport to and from the airport. For cancelled flights, free rerouting and full refunds are provided by airlines.

A spokesperson for easyJet said: "Due to 24-hour Greek national industrial action tomorrow [April 9], including air traffic controllers, some flights to and from Greece tomorrow will no longer be able to operate. While this is outside of our control, we are sorry for the inconvenience caused and are doing all we can to minimise the impact of the strike action. 

"We are notifying customers whose flights are impacted today [April 8] with options to transfer to another flight for free or receive a refund, to help them rearrange their plans before they travel. We advise all customers travelling to or from Greece tomorrow [April 9] to check the status of their flights on our Flight Tracker online for the most up to date information."

A Ryanair spokesperson said: "Due to a Greek Air Traffic Control strike, we have been forced to cancel or make schedule changes to a small number of flights to/from Greece on Tues 08 and Wed 09 Apr. Passengers affected by these cancellations/schedule changes will be notified of their options via email.

"We ask all passengers due to travel to/from Greece on Tues 08 or Wed 09 Apr to keep an eye on the Ryanair app for the latest updates. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by this strike, which is outside of our control and affects all airlines operating to/from Greece."

Express.co.uk has contacted TUI and British Airways for comment.