AEGEAN Accommodates 2,300 Passengers After Athens FIR Blackout

Greek airline AEGEAN assisted approximately 2,300 passengers after flight cancellations and major delays triggered by a blackout in the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR), which disrupted air traffic control communications. The incident led to significant operational challenges across Greek airports.

According to airline sources, the disruptions were caused by force majeure, after the national aviation authority issued an official air traffic notice. As a result, AEGEAN applied the provisions of EU Regulation 261/2004, which governs passenger rights in cases of cancellations and long delays, particularly when caused by extraordinary circumstances.

The airline said it fully complied with its obligations by offering affected passengers alternative flights at no additional cost, subject to seat availability. Travelers who chose not to continue their journey were offered a full refund or the option of a travel voucher.

In addition, AEGEAN covered accommodation and care expenses for stranded passengers. The airline provided a total of 2,301 hotel rooms, including 1,682 rooms in Athens and 619 across other destinations in its network. Complimentary transportation to and from hotels was arranged, while meals and snacks were also provided at the company’s expense.

The blackout, which temporarily limited flight operations for safety reasons, caused widespread disruption to schedules. AEGEAN stressed that passenger care remained a priority throughout the incident, emphasizing that all required measures were implemented to minimize inconvenience during the disruption.

Source: tovima.com