Tourist bus owners plan two-day work stoppage in Crete on September 10-11
The Association of Tourist Bus Owners of Crete has announced a two-day work stoppage on September 10 and 11, 2026, escalating protests over what it describes as serious problems facing the sector. During the stoppage, tourist buses will not carry out arrivals, departures, excursions or cruise-related transfers, the association said.
The association said the action follows earlier notices it issued the previous week and represents a continuation of its efforts to address accumulated problems in the industry. It said transfers carried out under active contracts with travel agencies, using rented buses, are exempt from the stoppage, as is the transport of hotel staff.
Thursday’s march to Heraklion airport
According to the association, buses will gather at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 10, at the Pagkritio Stadium in Heraklion before setting off on an organized march through the city’s main streets. The route runs from the Pagkritio Stadium along the coastal avenue, then via Ethnikis Antistaseos, Papandreou and Dimokratias avenues to Eleftherias Square, continuing along Ikarou Avenue to Heraklion airport.
At Eleftherias Square, the association said it will submit a resolution outlining the sector’s demands to the Region of Crete. The march will then continue toward Heraklion airport, where the buses will remain gathered as part of the mobilization.
On Friday, September 11, no march is planned, but the association said buses will remain parked and immobilized at points around Heraklion airport, continuing the stoppage.
The association warned that the mobilization, particularly Thursday’s march, could cause temporary traffic disruption and delays, and it asked residents and visitors for understanding and patience. The disruption comes as authorities separately plan daily closures on the BOAK highway near the Xiropotamos bridge from September 7 to 12, adding to possible traffic pressures in the same period. Travelers seeking alternative transport during the affected days may want to check options to rent a car in Crete.
In its statement, the association said the mobilization is “a necessary demand for the sustainability of the sector,” adding that it does not want society against it but “with us.” It said it acts “with respect toward the citizens and visitors of Crete, but also with determination to resolve the problems we face.”
