Severe air traffic congestion reported across Greece and Cyprus

On August 4, 2026, the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported unprecedented air traffic congestion over Greece and Cyprus, leading to significant flight delays for travelers to and from Israel. The surge in air traffic is attributed to a combination of peak summer travel demand at Ben Gurion Airport and the diversion of flight paths due to the ongoing security situation in the Eastern Mediterranean. Eurocontrol data indicates that European airspace is currently handling record numbers, with approximately 37,000 flights per day.

The congestion has pushed regional airspace capacity to its limits, causing substantial operational challenges. Passengers have already experienced multi-hour delays, specifically noted on Tuesday, as aircraft were grounded due to the bottleneck. Travelers intending to use routes through Greece and Cyprus in the coming days are advised to expect continued disruptions and extended waiting times. The situation remains sensitive, as the combination of high seasonal volume and security-related re-routing continues to exert pressure on air traffic control systems in the region.