Athens F.I.R. Sets Record with 4,944 Flights Managed in 24 Hours

On Saturday, August 10, the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) set a new record for flight traffic in the Athens Flight Information Region (F.I.R.). The F.I.R. manages all aspects of air traffic, including arrivals, departures, and overflights.

According to HCAA, a total of 4,944 aircraft either arrived at, departed from, or transited through Athens F.I.R. The record-breaking number was efficiently managed by Greece’s air traffic controllers.

For context, EUROCONTROL in Maastricht, which oversees one of the busiest airspaces in central Europe, covering four F.I.R.s (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and part of Germany), handles an average of about 4,800 flights daily.

Additionally, the Heraklion International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis” on Crete has also been setting passenger records. On July 21, 2024, the airport served 62,778 passengers within a 24-hour period.

Hellenic Aviation Service Provider (HASP) Governor George Saounatsos praised the Authority’s staff for their role in managing increased traffic volumes. He noted that air navigation systems have seen significant improvements compared to the previous year, thanks to ongoing updates.

Saounatsos also highlighted that the Authority is expanding its workforce by hiring additional air traffic controllers and Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel (ATSEP) to meet rising demand.

HASP works in collaboration with the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) to ensure effective air traffic management.