News: Olympic Airlines axes Thessaloniki flights from London
Flights > News > # 1875 (26/08/2008)
Greece's cash-strapped national carrier Olympic Airlines is axing its loss-making flights to Thessaloniki from London Gatwick on September 12.
A spokesman for the ailing airline said the decision to “streamline” the flight programme is dictated by the company's major financial difficulties, the size of the available fleet and the adverse international situation caused by high fuel costs. The spokesman added that the route was losing Olympic €3.6 million (£2.9 million) a year.
The company is also examining the prospect of entering into commercial partnerships with other carriers to reduce its airport charges abroad.
The Greek government has spent years seeking private investors to take over Olympic Airlines but the process is complicated by the European Commission's demand that OA repay around €700 million (558 million) in past illegal state aid.
Olympic’s decision to scrap its Thessaloniki flights from London means that the only regular scheduled services to Greece’s second city are with British Airways and Easyjet.
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