Greece to Pay Millions in Compensation After FIR Blackout Shakes Air Travel

The Day Greek Airspace Froze

On January 4, 2026, an unprecedented blackout in the Greek Flight Information Region (FIR) grounded hundreds of flights, putting aviation safety at risk and causing financial losses of millions of euros.

According to Lloyds underwriters, the Greek state itself will have to compensate thousands of passengers, as the incident was caused by serious deficiencies in technological infrastructure and outdated surveillance systems, rather than mechanical failures covered by specialized insurance policies.

Who Will Be Compensated and How

Affected passengers must file group claims against the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA).

The process includes:

• HCAA → Civil Aviation Authority for judicial or out-of-court settlements.
• Airlines: Obliged under Regulation (EC) 261/2004 to provide alternative flights, full refunds, or vouchers, but cannot cover indirect losses caused by HCAA failures.

Example: Aegean Airlines

• Provided alternative flights at no cost or full refunds.
• Offered 1,682 hotel rooms in Athens and 619 in other locations, transport to/from hotels, meals, and snacks free of charge.

Example: SKY express

• Despite multiple attempts by CrisisMonitor, the airline did not respond, highlighting concerns over customer care and crisis management.

 Cause of the Blackout

HCAA, in close cooperation with OTE, is still investigating.

Preliminary findings:

• Telecommunication infrastructure failure
• No evidence of cyberattacks

The incident exposes chronic weaknesses in the modernization of critical air traffic systems, despite Greece being in one of Europe’s busiest airspace regions.

 Para-political Perspective

• The event hits public finances but also highlights political responsibility: HCAA and the Ministry of Infrastructure are under scrutiny for delays in upgrading critical systems.
• Aegean emerges as a positive example of crisis management, while Sky Express faces reputational damage, with potential political implications for aviation oversight.
• The government will need to handle group claims potentially reaching millions of euros, a sensitive issue ahead of the 2026 election cycle.

 Statistics and Financial Impact

• 500+ flights affected directly
• Estimated financial losses to passengers: hundreds of thousands to several million euros
• HCAA infrastructure: 30+ year-old equipment, critical systems overdue for modernization

The January 4 FIR blackout serves as a wake-up call for Greek political and technological infrastructure:

• Public funds will cover millions in compensation
• Passengers are entitled to group claims
• Immediate investment in technological upgrades is critical to avoid future crises

 Greece has paid the price for lack of control over critical infrastructure – the political handling of this crisis will be judged harshly.

Source: pagenews.gr