ATHENS, Greece — As the prospect of a disastrous debt default hung over Greece, the government faced strikes and protests today against its new austerity measures needed to appease the country’s rescue creditors.

Athens commuters faced more misery as metro, tram and suburban rail workers were on a 24-hour strike, while buses and trolleys were to stop operating for several hours in the middle of the day. Airline passengers also faced delays as air traffic controllers implemented work-to-rule action, refusing to work overtime. A 48-hour strike by all transport workers is expected later this week.

Faced with mounting anger from the country’s international creditors, the government recently announced a raft of new austerity measures to secure the next $10.7 billion installment of bailout loans from the rescue package it has been dependent on since last year. Without the funds, Greece only has enough funds to see it through mid-October, when it faces the prospect of a messy default.