Flights cancelled, vessels anchored as Greek workers set to strike

April 1st, 2009

MonstersAnd Critics.com
Athens – Air transport across Greece is set to be paralyzed and vessels will remain anchored at ports on Thursday after workers called a nationwide 24-hour strike to protest against the government’s economic polices.

Air traffic controllers said they will walk off the job from 12 pm until 4 pm (0900 GMT until 1300 GMT), forcing the cancellation of dozens of international and domestic flights as part of a nationwide strike called by the country’s private sector federation GSEE and public sector union ADEDY.

The two unions represent more than half of the country’s workforce of 5 million.

Newly privatised Olympic Airlines said it will be forced to cancel a total of 70 flights, including eleven international destinations such as London, Frankfurt, Milan, Istanbul, Alexandria and Bucharest.

Greek private airline, Aegean, said it will cancel 24 flights and reschedule another 30 flights.

The air traffic controllers are demanding the hiring of extra staff and an improvement in their health-care benefits.

The nationwide strike will also affect all state-run schools as teachers will stay away from the classroom and all state services, including tax offices and municipal buildings will remain shut for the day.

Hospitals will be operating on emergency staff and a 24-hour news blackout will be imposed as journalists refuse to show up for work.

All ferry services to and from the Greek islands will be suspended as vessels remain anchored at harbours across the country while train, bus, tram and trolley services are also expected to stop operations.

Greece’s unions are protesting against the government’s recent pension and labour reforms, which raise the retirement age and cut back benefits as well as privatisations and tax-raising measures.

The strike follows weeks of riots across Greece in December by youths whose economic future is bleak in a country with a high unemployment rate and low wages.

Unemployment is over 7 per cent, and nearly 20 per cent of Greeks live below the poverty line, earning less than 600 euros (775 dollars) a month.

Read more: “Flights cancelled, vessels anchored as Greek workers set to strike” –

US Airways International Sale Fares- Mexico and Zurich Switzerland

April 1st, 2009

Each Way From To

Phoenix, AZ Mazatlan, Mexico $55
Denver, CO Mazatlan, Mexico $100
Sacramento, CA Mazatlan, Mexico $130
Seattle, WA Mazatlan, Mexico $135
Las Vegas, NV Mazatlan, Mexico $140
Philadelphia, PA Zurich, Switzerland $170
New York, NY (LGA) Zurich, Switzerland $170
Chicago, IL (ORD) Zurich, Switzerland $180
Charlotte, NC Zurich, Switzerland $190
Washington, DC (DCA) Zurich, Switzerland $190

More International USAir e-savers…..

American Airlines Discount Air Fares to Bogota, Santiago, Panama City and more…

March 31st, 2009

International Weekend Getaway Fares

Travel Dates & Times for Weekend Getaway Fares

Miami, FL (MIA) Bogota, Colombia (BOG) $99^
Miami, FL (MIA) Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) $224^
Miami, FL (MIA) Oranjestad, Aruba (AUA) $135^
Miami, FL (MIA) Panama City, Panama (PTY) $74^
Miami, FL (MIA) Santiago, Chile (SCL) $334^
Miami, FL (MIA) Sao Paulo, Brazil (GRU) $286^
Atlanta, GA (ATL) Dallas / Ft. Worth, TX (DFW) $64*
Chicago O’Hare, IL (ORD) Dublin, Ireland (DUB) $133^
Chicago O’Hare, IL (ORD) Memphis, TN (MEM) $95*
Chicago O’Hare, IL (ORD) Toronto, ON (YYZ) $73*
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, April 3, 2009.
Travel is valid 4/10/09 through 4/14/09.
Taxes, fees and conditions apply.
View all and book now

^International Fares For Next Weekend
Purchase by Sunday, April 5, 2009.
Travel is valid 4/7/09 through 4/15/09.
Taxes, fees and conditions apply.

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

Easy Jet 50% Sale

March 27th, 2009

Hurry! Up to 50% off flights on over 250,000 seats!

For 5 days only we are running a special half price sale to all your favourite destinations!

Save up to 50% on over 250,000 seats* for travel between 22 April to 10 June 2009, including May bank holidays and half term! But hurry this sale must end at midnight on Tuesday 31 March 2009.

When they’re gone, they’re gone so visit easyJet.com today and secure your place in the sun!

* Prices, although discounted, may rise during the promotional period. Visit easyJet.com for full details.

Book today and save on your summer at easyJet.com

Discount Air Fare to Madrid, London, Amsterdam, Moscow and Zurich

March 26th, 2009

Book your choice destination by Monday
Philadelphia-Madrid $325*
New York-Zurich $340*
Washington-London $379*
Seattle-Amsterdam $425*
Dallas-Ft. Worth-Moscow $484*
View all Top Offers
* One-way based on round-trip purchase, excl. taxes & fees
Flights within Europe from $115*

Discover more cities with these all-inclusive fares for travel within Europe.
See how many destinations to choose from

Visit Lufthansa for more details.

Greek Olympic Airlines enters a new era

March 26th, 2009

Travel Daily News

Olympic Airlines on Monday entered a new era, a long period of decadence finally ends giving its place to an era of high expectations and demands, Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis said during a privatization ceremony of the national carrier and the signing of the final agreement for the purchase of Olympic Airlines’ and Olympic Airways Services’ assets by Marfin Investment Group (MIG).

“Olympic Airlines has been for years the big patient of our economy, creating huge debts of one million euros daily, burdening taxpayers and causing serious legal problems for our country,” Hatzidakis said underlining that Monday was the peak of hard efforts which lasted 18 months. The Greek minister stressed it was very significant that the national carrier was transferred to the hands of a powerful and credible investor such as MIG, amid a difficult international conjuncture. “MIG’s successful course during all these years is creating high expectations and makes us optimistic over the future of Olympic,” he said.

Olympic Airlines cost around 350 million euros to Greek taxpayers annually, Hatzidakis said adding that the state would receive 177.2 million euros from the sale and another 150 million euros annually from tax and social insurance contributions. At the same time, Greece will enjoy a more healthy environment in air transport, without monopolies or unfair practices which will work to the benefit of consumers, he noted.

Andreas Vgenopoulos, vice-chairman of MIG, addressing the ceremony expressed his satisfaction over the signing of the agreement by saying: “We did our duty, it was inconceivable not to have an Olympic”. He committed to create a new airline company, healthy, very strong and developing to the benefit of MIG’s shareholders, its workers, tourism and of the national economy in general. “We promise to do everything to make Greeks proud for a new Olympic,” he said.

The agreement

Marfin Investment Group Holdings S.A announced that the definitive legal agreements (share sale and purchase agreement, shareholders agreement as well as all other necessary legal documentation) have been signed between the Company and the Hellenic Republic for the acquisitions of Pantheon Airways S.A (flying operations), MRO NewCo (technical base) and the Ground Handling NewCo (ground handling services) (collectively the “Acquired Entities”). The above mentioned agreements are subject to ratification by the Greek Parliament, expected to take place in the next few weeks, and will thereafter be vested with the validity of a law of the Greek State.

MIG informs investors about certain aspects of these transactions:

* All Acquired Entities are effectively start-up businesses, which own only selected assets to be sold by the Hellenic Republic and carry no liabilities or obligations whatsoever;
* The Acquired Entities are not in any way the successors, in a legal or any other manner, of the state-owned aviation companies, including but not limited to Olympic Airways, Olympic Airlines, Olympic Aviation etc. This is safeguarded by national legislation that is already in place and has been vetted by the European Commission;
* In a period of unprecedented financial and economic instability, the nature of the transaction ensures that MIG maintains significant strategic flexibility regarding the operations of the Acquired Entities. Indicatively, MIG can select at its own discretion the assets that it wishes to acquire (such as aircraft and technical equipment at a very favourable environment), the way in which such assets will be acquired (purchase, leasing etc.), the number and type of employees that it wishes to recruit, the routes in which the new airline will operate and a broad array of more strategic alternatives. MIG’s full flexibility at this stage will enhance its determination to create a very efficient aviation business with strong competitive advantages.

MIG, in close cooperation with the recently retained aviation management team and external consultants, is currently finalising a detailed strategic and operational business plan for each of the Acquired entities. Post finalisation of this exercise, MIG will be able to provide visibility regarding its plans for, and the prospects of, the Acquired Entities.

Marfin Investment Group is the largest Greek business group in the wider South East European region. It numbers in excess of 50,000 employees and associates and has a presence spanning over 40 countries.

MIG is headquartered in Greece and listed on the Athens Exchange. 58% of its share capital is held directly or indirectly by Greek strategic, institutional and retail investors and 24% is held by international institutional investors. Dubai Group owns a c.18% stake in the Company, is represented on its BoD via 3 non-executive members and has no involvement in the management of the company.

Iceland Air Announces Flights from Seattle to Europe

March 25th, 2009

Iceland Air Announces Nonstop Flights from Seattle

Seattle Flight Schedule :
FI680 departs SEA at 4:30pm / arrives in Reykjavik (KEF) at 6:45am the following morning.
FI681 departs KEF at 5:00pm / arrives SEA at 5:45pm the same day.

A SAMPLING OF FARES

Sample fares from Boston, plus New York-JFK and Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Travel from Boston to:
Reykjavik from $489*
Amsterdam from $559*
Copenhagen from $529*
Frankfurt from $679*
Helsinki from $669*
London from $409*
Oslo from $529*
Paris from $459*
Stockholm from $529*

bg-orange-arrow Book now

Also take advantage of sale fares to Iceland and beyond from New York-JFK from $409* and Minneapolis/St. Paul from $739*. Click here .

Fares are valid for new purchases only and are based on availability. Subject to change at any time. Fares are not guaranteed until purchased.

Book here