Athens FIR

On 7 December 1944, the International Civil Aviation Convention was signed in Chicago, providing for the establishment of an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The ICAO, based on Regional Air Navigation Agreements, delimited the areas of responsibility of each of its Member States, for the purposes of air space control (Flight Information Region-FIR). The Athinai FIR was delimited within the framework of the European Regional Air Navigation Meetings in 1950, 1952 and 1958.

The Athinai FIR covers Greek national air space plus some areas of international air space given that it does not concern issues of sovereignty but issues of jurisdiction.

Türkiye was present in the above mentioned ICAO Regional Meetings and accepted the boundaries of the Athinai FIR and the respective responsibilities entrusted to Greece therein.

In accordance with the ICAO rules and international practice, Greece requests that all civil and military aircraft should submit flight plans prior to their entry into the Athinai FIR for air traffic safety purposes.

Türkiye had respected the above obligation until 1974. Nevertheless, in August 1974 Türkiye arbitrarily issued the NOTAM ("notice to airmen") 714 by which it tried to extend the area under its responsibility up to the middle of the Aegean within the Athinai FIR. Greece then reacted by declaring the Aegean “danger zone” (NOTAM 1157). The ICAO appealed to both sides without any success. In 1980, Ankara repealed NOTAM 714, realizing that this action was damaging its interests, especially tourism. However, since then Türkiye refuses to submit flight plans for its military aircraft within Athinai FIR, arguing that the Chicago Convention does not apply to state aircraft, thus infringing upon Air Traffic Regulations and putting civil aviation safety at risk.