Olympic Airlines - Revision history

Irlandos: /* Olympic in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s */

2009-10-02T13:26:37Z

Olympic in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s

Irlandos: /* O.A. Group of Companies (April 1957 - December 2003) */

2009-10-02T13:25:30Z

O.A. Group of Companies (April 1957 - December 2003)

Irlandos at 13:23, October 2, 2009

2009-10-02T13:23:45Z

Oa: /* Fleet */

2008-02-15T18:49:33Z

Fleet

Oa: /* Olympic in the 1960s */

2008-02-15T18:47:16Z

Olympic in the 1960s

Oa: /* Olympic in the 1960s */

2008-02-15T18:45:40Z

Olympic in the 1960s

Oa: /* Olympic in the 1960s */

2008-02-15T18:45:01Z

Olympic in the 1960s

Oa: /* Olympic in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s */

2008-02-15T18:39:24Z

Olympic in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s

Oa: /* Olympic in the 1970s */

2008-02-15T16:32:43Z

Olympic in the 1970s

Oa: /* Retired Aircraft */

2008-02-15T16:16:46Z

Retired Aircraft

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 At the start of the 1990s a nonstop route to Tokyo was launched but soon shut down due to limited passenger interest and heavy losses. Olympic purchased new Boeing 737-400 aircraft in 1993, as well as the advanced version of the A300, the A300-600R. Due to the rising losses and debts, the government decided to formulate a restructuring program in which all debts were erased. This program, as well as all the plans that followed, failed. A few years later, in an attempt to make OA profitable, its management was given to the subsidiary of British Airways, Speedwing. The result was even larger debts and rising losses. In 1999, Olympic purchased four new Airbus A340-313X aircraft, to replace the ageing B747-200.
 Very soon, the losses recorded exceeded all expectations, so in 2003 the government decided to restructure the Olympic Airways Group of Companies. The subsidiary, '''Macedonian Airlines S.A.''', was renamed '''Olympic Airlines S.A.''' and took over the flight operations of Olympic Airways, erasing at the same time all of the airline's debts. The remaining group companies, except for '''Olympic Aviation''' (Olympic Airways, Olympic Into-Plane Company, Olympic Fuel Company, Olympic Airways Handling and the Olympic Airways Technical Base), merged and formed a new company, called '''[[Olympic Airways - Services S.A.]]'''. In December 2004, the Hellenic Government decided to privatise '''Olympic Airlines''', but the sale process ended in failure, as no one of the buyers was eager to repay almost 500 million [[Euro]] back to the Greek State, as the European Committee decided.
-On [[September 28]], [[2009]], Olympic Airlines officially shut down. A new airline - [[Olympic Air]] - with fewer destinations and much fewer staff members, commenced operations the following day, though its first official commencement day was [[October 1]].
+===The end===
 ==Incidents and accidents==

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 On [[September 28]], [[2009]], Olympic Airlines officially shut down. A new airline - [[Olympic Air]] - with fewer destinations and much fewer staff members, commenced operations the following day, though its first official commencement day was [[October 1]].
-===O.A. Group of Companies (April 1957 - December 2003)===
 ==Incidents and accidents==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Olympic Airlines''' (Ολυμπιακές Αερογραμμές - OA) is the state-run flag carrier of [[Greece]], employing about 1850 people. The company headquarters are in [[Athens]], Greece.
+'''Olympic Airlines''' (Ολυμπιακές Αερογραμμές - OA) was the state-run flag carrier of [[Greece]], employing about 1850 people. The company headquarters were in [[Athens]], Greece.
 ==History==
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 At the start of the 1990s a nonstop route to Tokyo was launched but soon shut down due to limited passenger interest and heavy losses. Olympic purchased new Boeing 737-400 aircraft in 1993, as well as the advanced version of the A300, the A300-600R. Due to the rising losses and debts, the government decided to formulate a restructuring program in which all debts were erased. This program, as well as all the plans that followed, failed. A few years later, in an attempt to make OA profitable, its management was given to the subsidiary of British Airways, Speedwing. The result was even larger debts and rising losses. In 1999, Olympic purchased four new Airbus A340-313X aircraft, to replace the ageing B747-200.
-Very soon, the losses recorded exceeded all expectations, so in 2003 the government decided to restructure the Olympic Airways Group of Companies. The subsidiary, '''Macedonian Airlines S.A.''', was renamed '''Olympic Airlines S.A.''' and took over the flight operations of Olympic Airways, erasing at the same time all of the airline's debts. The remaining group companies, except for '''Olympic Aviation''' (Olympic Airways, Olympic Into-Plane Company, Olympic Fuel Company, Olympic Airways Handling and the Olympic Airways Technical Base), merged and formed a new company, called '''[[Olympic Airways - Services S.A.]]'''. In December 2004, the Hellenic Government decided to privatise '''Olympic Airlines''', but the sale process ended in failure, as no one of the buyers was eager to repay almost 500 million [[Euro]] back to the Greek State, as the European Committee decided. According to the Greek government, the company will be relaunched in late February 2006, giving its place to a new airline, possibly with fewer destinations, and much fewer staff. The new airline, will contain the name "Olympic" as well as the well-known six rings logo and will operate two or three types of aircraft.
+Very soon, the losses recorded exceeded all expectations, so in 2003 the government decided to restructure the Olympic Airways Group of Companies. The subsidiary, '''Macedonian Airlines S.A.''', was renamed '''Olympic Airlines S.A.''' and took over the flight operations of Olympic Airways, erasing at the same time all of the airline's debts. The remaining group companies, except for '''Olympic Aviation''' (Olympic Airways, Olympic Into-Plane Company, Olympic Fuel Company, Olympic Airways Handling and the Olympic Airways Technical Base), merged and formed a new company, called '''[[Olympic Airways - Services S.A.]]'''. In December 2004, the Hellenic Government decided to privatise '''Olympic Airlines''', but the sale process ended in failure, as no one of the buyers was eager to repay almost 500 million [[Euro]] back to the Greek State, as the European Committee decided.
 ===O.A. Group of Companies (April 1957 - December 2003)===

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 The Olympic Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (at February 2008):
 *4 Airbus A340-300
 *14 Boeing 737-400 (7 owned,7 leased)
 *2 Boeing 737-300 (leased)
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 *7 ATR 42 (owned)
 *4 De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100
 The average Olympic Airlines fleet age is 12.8 years old in April 2006.

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 ===Olympic in the 1960s===
-The new company developed rapidly. In 1960 the first jet aircraft of OA entered into service, the De Havilland Comet 4B. In 1962, one of those Comets managed to complete the London - Athens route in just 2 hours and 50 minutes, setting a new speed record. At the same time, Olympic and British airline BEA agreed to create the first codeshare flights. Later on, the companies expanded their cooperation. When Hellenic crews had to spend their night at London, British crews would fly the Greek Comets at BEA destinations, and the same thing would happen with Greek crews and British Comets. On all BEA and OA Comets, there would be a "BEA-OLYMPIC" sign. In 1965, Olympic placed its first orders for the new Boeing 707-320 jet aircraft.Olympic was the 84th buyer of the B707,thus all Boeing aircraft delivered since then to Olympic have the code "84" e.g. B707-384, B727-284, B747-284 etc. The first one was delivered in 1966, bearing the name "City of Athens". The nonstop route Athens - New York City (JFK Airport) was the first to be launched. At the same time Olympic opened its new first class lounge at JFK Airport, being one of the few airlines that had this luxury. Very soon, Olympic became one of the leading airlines of Europe. In 1968, the first routes to Africa were launched and OA received the first Boeing 727-200 jet aircraft. In 1969, OA launched a route to Canada and phased out the Comet 4Bs. When the first B707 started flying, Onassis thought of adding a piano in the first class cabin, for passengers to enjoy perfectly performed melodies on board. He offered golden knives, spoons and crystal glasses and plates, in a first class service that many celebrities and important businessmen used at the time.
+The new company developed rapidly. In 1960 the first jet aircraft of OA entered into service, the De Havilland Comet 4B. In 1962, one of those Comets managed to complete the London - Athens route in just 2 hours and 50 minutes, setting a new speed record. At the same time, Olympic and British airline BEA agreed to create the first codeshare flights. Later on, the companies expanded their cooperation. When Hellenic crews had to spend their night at London, British crews would fly the Greek Comets at BEA destinations, and the same thing would happen with Greek crews and British Comets. On all BEA and OA Comets, there would be a "BEA-OLYMPIC" sign. In 1965, Olympic placed its first orders for the new Boeing 707-320 jet aircraft.Olympic was the 84th buyer of the B707,thus all Boeing aircraft delivered since then to Olympic have the code "84" e.g. B707-384, B727-284, B747-284 etc. The first B707 was delivered in 1966, bearing the name "City of Athens"("Πόλις των Αθηνών"). The nonstop route Athens - New York City (JFK Airport) was the first to be launched. At the same time Olympic opened its new first class lounge at JFK Airport, being one of the few airlines that had this luxury. Very soon, Olympic became one of the leading airlines of Europe. In 1968, the first routes to Africa were launched and OA received the first Boeing 727-200 jet aircraft. In 1969, OA launched a route to Canada and phased out the Comet 4Bs. When the first B707 started flying, Onassis thought of adding a piano in the first class cabin, for passengers to enjoy perfectly performed melodies on board. He offered golden knives, spoons and crystal glasses and plates, in a first class service that many celebrities and important businessmen used at the time.
 ===Olympic in the 1970s===

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 ===Olympic in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s===
-In 1984, two more B747-200 aircraft were purchased from Singapore Airlines, and the Canada and Australia routes were reopened. A new '''Olympic Airways Cargo''' division was created, by converting the Boeing 707-300 "City of Lindos", but the plans were soon abandoned. In [[1986]], the worst strikes in the history of OA occurred whilst financial losses mounted.
+In 1984, two more B747-200 aircraft were purchased from Singapore Airlines, and the Canada and Australia routes were reopened. A new '''Olympic Airways Cargo''' division was created, by converting the Boeing 707-320 "City of Lindos", but the plans were soon abandoned. In [[1986]], the worst strikes in the history of OA occurred whilst financial losses mounted.
 The company has faced serious financial trouble since the [[1980s|80s]], mostly because of its dubious management. In fact, the management has not only been haphazard but the airline was used as an employment provider for politically connected individuals, and was severely indebted as a result. Olympic Airways is an example of the corruption and politically motivated management that persists in many Greek state enterprises. Furthermore, Greek politicians and their families travelled free on the airline or for token amounts. Greek governments also made Olympic carry the press with a 97% discount. '''Olympic Tourist''' was created as a subsidiary of OA, which issues tickets not only for OA, but for other airlines as well.
-At the start of the 1990s a nonstop route to Tokyo was launched but soon shut down due to limited passenger interest and heavy losses. Olympic purchased new Boeing 737-400 aircraft in 1993, as well as the advanced version of the A300, the A300-600R. Due to the rising losses and debts, the government decided to formulate a restructuring program in which all debts were erased. This program, as well as all the plans that followed, failed. A few years later, in an attempt to make OA profitable, its management was given to the subsidiary of British Airways, Speedwing. The result was even larger debts and rising losses. In 1999, Olympic purchased four new Airbus A340-313X aircraft, to replace the aging B747-200.
+At the start of the 1990s a nonstop route to Tokyo was launched but soon shut down due to limited passenger interest and heavy losses. Olympic purchased new Boeing 737-400 aircraft in 1993, as well as the advanced version of the A300, the A300-600R. Due to the rising losses and debts, the government decided to formulate a restructuring program in which all debts were erased. This program, as well as all the plans that followed, failed. A few years later, in an attempt to make OA profitable, its management was given to the subsidiary of British Airways, Speedwing. The result was even larger debts and rising losses. In 1999, Olympic purchased four new Airbus A340-313X aircraft, to replace the ageing B747-200.
 Very soon, the losses recorded exceeded all expectations, so in 2003 the government decided to restructure the Olympic Airways Group of Companies. The subsidiary, '''Macedonian Airlines S.A.''', was renamed '''Olympic Airlines S.A.''' and took over the flight operations of Olympic Airways, erasing at the same time all of the airline's debts. The remaining group companies, except for '''Olympic Aviation''' (Olympic Airways, Olympic Into-Plane Company, Olympic Fuel Company, Olympic Airways Handling and the Olympic Airways Technical Base), merged and formed a new company, called '''[[Olympic Airways - Services S.A.]]'''. In December 2004, the Hellenic Government decided to privatise '''Olympic Airlines''', but the sale process ended in failure, as no one of the buyers was eager to repay almost 500 million [[Euro]] back to the Greek State, as the European Committee decided. According to the Greek government, the company will be relaunched in late February 2006, giving its place to a new airline, possibly with fewer destinations, and much fewer staff. The new airline, will contain the name "Olympic" as well as the well-known six rings logo and will operate two or three types of aircraft.

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 ===Olympic in the 1970s===
-In 1970, OA purchased the new NAMC YS-11 turboprop aircraft to replace the aging Douglas DC-3 and Douglas DC-6, used throughout the domestic network of the company. In 1971, '''[[Olympic Aviation]]/Ολυμπιακή Αεροπλοϊα''' was created, so that the Greek islands could be more efficiently served. In 1972 Greece was linked to Australia for the first time. One of the Boeing 707-300s, called "City of Athens", landed after 20 hours of flight at Sydney airport.
+In 1970, OA purchased the new NAMC YS-11 turboprop aircraft to replace the ageing Douglas DC-3 , used throughout the domestic network of the company. In 1971, '''[[Olympic Aviation]]/Ολυμπιακή Αεροπλοϊα''' was created, so that the Greek islands could be more efficiently served. In 1972 Greece was linked to Australia for the first time. One of the Boeing 707-320s, called "City of Athens", landed after 20 hours of flight at Sydney airport.
 Olympic then purchased its first Boeing 720-051B jet aircraft, a derivative of the Boeing 707, as well as the first Boeing 747-200 OA was also interested in the new supersonic aircraft BAC-Aerospatiale Concorde, and on January 5th, 1973, a Concorde landed at Athens International Airport for a demonstration.
-On 22 January 1973, an incident occurred that dramatically changed the future of OA. The death of Aristotle Onassis' son, Alexander, in a plane crash came as a shock to Greek people and marked the beginning of the end for Olympic Airways. A few months later, Onassis sold all of the OA shares to the Greek state and died shortly after, in 1975. In 1976, under the state management, OA purchased the first Boeing 737-200 jet aircraft and created '''Olympic Catering''', which served both OA and foreign airlines. In 1977, in a cost-cutting effort, OA shut down the Australia route, followed by the Canadian one in 1978, when OA also placed its first orders for the new Airbus aircraft, the Airbus A300.
+On 22 January 1973, an incident occurred that dramatically changed the future of OA. The death of Aristotle Onassis' son, Alexander, in a plane crash came as a shock to Greek people and marked the beginning of the end for Olympic Airways. A few months later, Onassis sold all of the OA shares to the Greek state and died shortly after, in 1975. In 1976, under the state management, OA purchased the first Boeing 737-200 jet aircraft and created '''Olympic Catering''', which served both OA and foreign airlines. In 1977, in a cost-cutting effort, OA shut down the Australia route, followed by the Canadian one in 1978, when OA also placed its first orders for the new Airbus aircraft, the Airbus A300B4.
 ===Olympic in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s===

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 ==Retired Aircraft==
-*Douglas DC-
+*Douglas DC-3
-*Douglas DC-4 Skymaster3
+*Douglas DC-4 Skymaster
 *Douglas DC-6
 *De Havilland Comet 4B
@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 *Boeing 737-200
 *Airbus A300-B4
-*Shorts 330,*Dornier Do 228,*AirbusA300-605R,Boeing 717-200
+*Shorts 330, *Dornier Do 228, *AirbusA300-605R, *Boeing 717-200
 ==External links==