Strikes to shut Greek airports for 4 days

By Idyli Tsakiri

ATHENS

Greek airports will shut down from Sunday, the air traffic controllers’ union said Wednesday as it announced a four-day strike, local media reported.

The consecutive 24-hour strikes were declared in response to a bill introduced late Tuesday night in parliament on the restructuring of the Civil Aviation Authority.

In an announcement carried across the media, the Union of Air Traffic Controllers said flights would not take off or land at Greek airports from Oct. 9. The union called for the immediate withdrawal of articles within the proposed legislation on restructuring civil aviation.

The bill proposes breaking the Civil Aviation Authority into two parts under reforms demanded by EU and International Monetary Fund lenders. A vote is expected Thursday.