Doukissis Plakentias station

Employees of the Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA) on Tuesday gave out 8,000 electronic tickets for free to commuters at seven of the capital's busiest metro stations in a campaign aimed at raising awareness about the e-cards among the Greek public.

Transport authorities are moving forward with long-delayed activation of electronic barriers which started operating at Syntagma metro station in central Athens on Sunday with several more stations on the metro network to follow suit by March 15.

Barriers for disabled commuters will remain open until March 15.

Although new barriers that work with the recently launched electronic transport tickets were due to be activated at all metro stations in Athens on Wednesday, just six were in operation.

Transport authorities hope to activate the barriers at a minimum of one more station by the end of this year.

There will be no services on the the Athens metro on Tuesday as employees walk off the job to protest the government's privatization plans.

Only four of the 40 metro stations will be close their gates gradually in an effort to put the new electronic ticket to the test. OASA opted to adopt a pilot run for the new ticket system to avoid any major disturbances and inconvenience to the public.

Commuters in Athens can now purchase smart cards for public transport, which can be used instead of paper tickets, at sales points that have opened at 11 different metro stations.

Mount Hymmetus flanks the eastern edge of the Athens area and has played an important role in the city's history.

Athens Flying Week 2017 will this year be celebrated on Saturday, September 16, and Sunday, September 17, with air shows taking place at the Tanagra Air Force Base, north of Athens. Besides air displays, the base will host a trade show, an exhibition of aircraft, restaurants, shops and a kids' park.

Commuters using the Athens Metro to the international airport and those planning to take OSE trains will have to reschedule their means of transportation for Thursday, September 14, as the Railway employees have declared a 24-hour strike in response to the signing of the sale of or TRAINOSE.

Public transport in Athens will be severely affected by work stoppages as part of protest action timed to coincide with a general strike Wednesday.

Buses will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Trolley buses will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. while the Piraeus-Kifissia electric railway (ISAP) and the Athens metro will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.