Greece transport strike: Travellers stranded as Greece downs tools

Add to My Stories Share Holidaymakers hoping to escape to Greece today will find their plans thrown into turmoil as a result of the crippling 24-hour nationwide strike currently affecting the country.In protest at the government's latest austerity measures, many public services will not be operating today.

All quiet: A lone passenger walks in Athens's Eleftherios Venizelos airport todayMajor disruption is expected at airports as flights are to be grounded between noon and 4pm across Greece, largely caused by the absence of essential engineers, ground staff and air traffic controllers.The country's vital sea links will also be interrupted, with ferries and ships expected to be anchored in Greek ports all day. Transport to the Greek Islands is expected to be impossible throughout the general strike.

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Among the businesses not in operation, will be banks, schools and museums. Governmental offices are expected to remain shut throughout the day.Greece is currently being aided through its budget-deficit crisis by a 9 billion EU package, which is protecting the country from insolvency.But citizens have nonetheless taken against the government's ongoing spending cuts, which will mean, among many things, salary and pension cuts, as well an increase to taxes and retirement age.As a result, there is an increasingly heavy security presence on the streets of Athens.Today will see an initial morning march, led by the country's two main workers' unions. This is expected to be followed by several more.