Globe Merchant Travel Blog

Associated Press, 07.07.09, 04:50 AM EDT

BRUSSELS — The EU’s Court of Justice has imposed new fines against the Greek government for ignoring a 2005 ruling to take back millions of euros (dollars) worth of subsidies it gave to Olympic Airways.

The Luxembourg-based court imposed a euro2 million ($2.8 million) fine and a daily euro16,000 penalty until the Greek government complies with EU orders to claw back the subsidies.

The court’s Tuesday ruling says Greece’s “failure to fulfill obligations has lasted for more than four years.” The court had already imposed a euro10,000 ($14,000)-a-day fine in 2005.

The European Commission says Greece still has to recover euro105 million ($146 million) in aid, and airport tax levies the airline collected but did not give to Athens International Airport.

EU regulators in 2002 ordered the Greek government to recover euro160 million ($222 million) in restructuring and operating aid from Olympic which they said violated EU rules giving the airline an unfair advantage over competitors.

International Weekend Getaway Fares

Travel Dates & Times for Weekend Getaway Fares

Freeport, Bahamas (FPO) Miami, FL (MIA) $84^
Miami, FL (MIA) Belize City, Belize (BZE) $305^
Miami, FL (MIA) Freeport, Bahamas (FPO) $84^
Miami, FL (MIA) Georgetown, Grand Cayman Island (GCM) $119^
Miami, FL (MIA) Jacksonville, FL (JAX) $78*
Miami, FL (MIA) Key West, FL (EYW) $100*
Miami, FL (MIA) Nashville, TN (BNA) $120*
Miami, FL (MIA) Nassau, Bahamas (NAS) $64^
Miami, FL (MIA) San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL) $240^

*U.S. And Canada Fares For Next Weekend
Purchase by Friday, July 10, 2009.
Travel is valid 7/17/09 through 7/21/09.
Taxes, fees and conditions apply.
View all and book now

^International Fares For Next Weekend
Purchase by Sunday, July 12, 2009.
Travel is valid 7/14/09 through 7/22/09.
Taxes, fees and conditions apply.

Visit www.aa.com/netsaaver for additional fare offers for this weekend and other travel dates.

London, UK – Also delayed the delivery of Airbus A-380s
(WAPA) – British Airways announced a 20% cost-cutting plan for this year, to face economic difficulties caused by the international air transport crisis. Among them there is also the delay of the delivery of 12 Airbus A-380s ordered by the carrier.

The airline announced that only the first of these aircraft will be delivered in 2012, before the beginning of London’s Olympic games; as for the others, five will be delayed of about five months, while the following six would be delivered two years after the initial schedule, until Autumn 2016. Initially deliveries were expected to end in 2014.

British Airways also stated that it would cut its Summer capacity by 3.5%, a 1% more than the initial estimate, and by 5% in Winter. After announcing the grounding of 16 aircraft for this Winter (see AVIONEWS), the airline added it will also ground three Boeing 757/200 for Summer 2010 and a further 747/400 for Winter 2010. (Avionews)

Just in time for Independence Day! Before you take off for a holiday getaway, or get ready for a weekend B-B-Q, have a look at this week’s great airfares and more…

* Fantastic fares for travel to Europe in July and August.
* Even more great deals for late summer travel.
* A 4th of July gift for you – $100 off bookings made this weekend.

Washington – London from $302*
New York – Berlin from $309*
Houston – Paris from $334*
Chicago – Barcelona from $403*
Boston – Brussels from $420*
Dallas Ft. Worth – Munich from $427*
More Top Offers

* One-way based on round-trip purchase, excl. taxes & fees

Visit Lufthansa for more details.

Travel Dates & Times for Weekend Getaway Fares

George Town, Bahamas (GGT) Miami, FL (MIA) $85^
Miami, FL (MIA) Belize City, Belize (BZE) $303^
Miami, FL (MIA) George Town, Bahamas (GGT) $85^
Miami, FL (MIA) San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL) $228^
Miami, FL (MIA) St. Kitts, Nevis (SKB) $206^
Miami, FL (MIA) Tampa, FL (TPA) $66*
Miami, FL (MIA) Tegucigalpa, Honduras (TGU) $178^
Ft. Lauderdale, FL (FLL) San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO) $74^
Atlanta, GA (ATL) Chicago O’Hare, IL (ORD) $59*
Chicago O’Hare, IL (ORD) St. Louis, MO (STL) $47*
Prices above are each way, based on round-trip purchase.
Taxes, fees and conditions apply.

*U.S. And Canada Fares For Next Weekend
Purchase by Friday, July 3, 2009.
Travel is valid 7/10/09 through 7/14/09.
Taxes, fees and conditions apply.
View all and book now

^International Fares For Next Weekend
Purchase by Sunday, July 5, 2009.
Travel is valid 7/07/09 through 7/15/09.
Taxes, fees and conditions apply.

Visit www.aa.com/netsaaver for additional fare offers for this weekend and other travel dates.

Philadelphia – Geneva from $201*
San Francisco – Frankfurt from $206*
Boston – Madrid from $213*
Chicago – Florence from $240*
More Top Offers

* One-way based on round-trip purchase, excl. taxes & fees

Visit Lufthansa for more details.

PR Inside
ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Greek air traffic controllers say they will go on strike Thursday, disrupting dozens of flights.
Greece’s Olympic Airlines said Wednesday it is expecting to cancel more than 30 flights because of the 4-hour strike, which starts at 8 a.m. (0500 GMT, 1 a.m. EDT). Aegean Airlines is canceling 20 flights and rescheduling another 40.
The air traffic controllers’ union is pressing the government to strictly enforce international flight regulations and crack down on interference in their communications systems by radio broadcasters.