Greek air staff union called off the rolling 24-hour strikes initially scheduled for August 9-12 and August 15-18 which would disrupt flights at the height of the summer tourism season.

The Federation of Greek Civil Aviation Workers (OSYPA) said the strike action was cancelled for the time being to give way to the ongoing dialogue with the Greek government over the planned layoffs of OSYPA members.

In the context of efforts to tackle the debt crisis, the government plans to dismiss some 25,000 civil servants in coming months under agreements with international lenders.

Protesting labor unions have reacted with a new wave of strikes and rallies this summer.

OSYPA claims that Greece's airports could not function properly on reduced personnel.

The government stressed that if Athens failed to fully meet commitments to lenders, including pledges to streamline civil services, there would be risks that European Union and International Monetary Fund creditors would not release further critical rescue loans to the debt-laden country in autumn.