Published on
October 9, 2025
Greece is taking significant steps to enhance its aviation infrastructure by recruiting eighty new air traffic controllers, a move aimed at bolstering the country’s air navigation services. This strategic hiring initiative comes in response to the increasing air traffic demands and the need to improve operational efficiency at major airports and airspaces across Greece. By expanding its workforce, Greece seeks to ensure safer, more efficient flight operations, enhance capacity to manage peak travel seasons, and strengthen its position as a key European aviation hub.
The Greek government has launched a comprehensive initiative to modernise the country’s air navigation services, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of Greece’s aviation sector. With the official swearing-in of 80 new air traffic controllers, this initiative is designed to bolster the country’s air traffic management capabilities, ensuring smoother operations across Greece’s airspace, which is one of the busiest in Europe. This move is part of a broader strategy aimed at enhancing Greece’s aviation infrastructure and meeting growing demand for air travel both domestically and internationally.
According to the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, the new recruits represent the first wave of a larger, government-backed programme to reinforce the staffing of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA), the body responsible for managing Greece’s air navigation services. The announcement marks the beginning of a series of measures aimed at improving Greece’s aviation safety and efficiency, as the country continues to be a key hub for European and global travel. The HCAA plays a critical role in managing the increasingly complex air traffic within Greek airspace, which includes key international airports such as Athens, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion, as well as a growing number of regional airports.
The recruitment of 80 air traffic controllers in the first phase is seen as a crucial step in addressing the increasing demand for air traffic control services. The country’s air traffic management system has been under pressure in recent years, particularly during peak travel seasons when the number of flights entering and exiting Greek airspace peaks. In line with this, the government has set an ambitious goal of recruiting even more personnel in the coming years to ensure that Greece remains competitive as a tourism and transport hub.
As part of the government’s recruitment drive, a total of 17 additional air traffic controllers will be hired by the end of this year. This is part of a phased recruitment strategy that will also see 72 more controllers brought on board by 2026. All of these new hires will be selected from the same ASEP (Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection) pool, ensuring that the most qualified and experienced candidates are chosen to fill these critical roles. The phased nature of the recruitment process allows the Greek government to steadily build up the capacity of the HCAA, ensuring that the authority can keep pace with the evolving demands of air traffic management.
The recruitment initiative is not limited to air traffic controllers alone. It also includes the hiring of additional technical personnel to support air traffic safety and operational functions. In 2025, 43 new Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel (ATSEP) will be employed, followed by another 44 in 2026. These specialists play a key role in ensuring the proper functioning of the electronic systems used in air traffic control, such as radar and communication technologies, which are essential for maintaining safe and efficient flight operations.
Furthermore, the recruitment drive extends to other important roles within the aviation sector. The government has also planned the hiring of 28 new Aerodrome Flight Information Service Officers (AFISO) in 2026. AFISOs are responsible for providing essential flight information services at airports, particularly smaller and regional airports, where they help to ensure safe and efficient operations by delivering important weather, air traffic, and runway information to pilots. The creation of these roles will further enhance the safety and efficiency of Greece’s aviation infrastructure, ensuring that even the less busy regional airports can operate at the highest standards.
This strategic recruitment initiative is part of a broader effort to modernise Greece’s entire air navigation service structure, which has seen increasing investment in both technology and human resources. The government is keen to keep up with the rapid growth in global air travel, as well as the anticipated rise in domestic and regional flights. In 2025, Greece is expected to see record numbers of international tourists, and with this, an increasing demand for air travel across the country. The recruitment of additional controllers and technical staff is a vital part of ensuring that Greece’s aviation infrastructure can handle the pressure without compromising safety or efficiency.
As air travel continues to grow globally, the Greek government’s investments in the country’s air traffic management system will pay significant dividends in the form of enhanced operational capacity and improved air travel safety. With 80 new air traffic controllers already sworn in and more to follow in the coming years, Greece is taking the necessary steps to modernise its air navigation services and to maintain its position as a leading destination for both tourism and international aviation.
Greece is strengthening its aviation infrastructure by recruiting eighty new air traffic controllers to meet growing air traffic demands and improve operational efficiency at key airports. This move aims to enhance safety and capacity, reinforcing Greece’s role as a prominent European aviation hub.
The addition of new personnel will also help to further streamline the country’s aviation operations, ensuring that Greece’s air traffic management system remains at the cutting edge of modern technology and staffing standards. As the world’s aviation industry continues to recover and expand in the post-pandemic era, Greece’s commitment to modernising its aviation services will ensure that it remains a top-tier destination for air travel in Europe. This recruitment effort is just one part of the broader strategy to elevate Greece’s air navigation services, demonstrating the government’s proactive approach in preparing for the future of global aviation.
