Globe Merchant Travel Blog

Each Way From To

Philadelphia, PA Madrid, Spain $170
Boston, MA Madrid, Spain $175
Chicago, IL (ORD) Madrid, Spain $190
Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Madrid, Spain $200
Denver, CO Madrid, Spain $200
Los Angeles, CA (LAX) Puerto Vallarta, Mexico $90
San Francisco, CA Puerto Vallarta, Mexico $100
Denver, CO Puerto Vallarta, Mexico $100
Portland, OR Puerto Vallarta, Mexico $100
Phoenix, AZ Puerto Vallarta, Mexico $125

More International USAir e-savers……

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, referring to the signing of the Olympic Airways airline company’s transfer agreemeent to the Marfing Investment Group (MIG) group, said on Monday “the period of decline for Olympic Airways is finally closing and our homeland is passing into a new phase concerning air transport.”

The prime minister added that the period of decline of the airline that had unbearable burdens for the Greek taxpayer and legal troubles in the European Union is finally closing, while stressing that the Greek citizens will stop paying one million euros that Olympic cost on a daily basis.

The new company, Karamanlis further said, is expected to contribute 150 million euros a year to public coffers and the new Olympic Airways will continue its activities with the same name and emblem.

He said that the government worked systematically and in an organised way to have this issue concluded, adding that it held tough negotiations with the EU to enable the new company to forge ahead without the debts owed by Olympic Airways and the employees were safeguarded with the decisions taken.

“We achieved our goal,” the prime minister said, stressing that the solution to this longstanding problem took place at a difficult economic conjuncture and pointed out that the issue of Olympic Airways was also handled with a sense of responsibility.

Karamanlis underlined that Greece was entering a new period in air transport, and referred to “healthy competition between companies, possibility of multiple options for passengers and service for all the unproductive routes.”

PASOK reaction

Main opposition PASOK party spokesman George Papaconstantinou, commenting on the prime minister’s statements said “it is accompanied by a considerable cost for the Greek taxpayer in the region of 1.5 billion, to which the prime minister did not refer.”

International Weekend Getaway Fares

Travel Dates & Times for Weekend Getaway Fares

Miami, FL (MIA) Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) $200^
Miami, FL (MIA) Montreal, QC (YUL) $125*
Miami, FL (MIA) New Orleans, LA (MSY) $90*
Miami, FL (MIA) Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (PLS) $180^
Miami, FL (MIA) Recife, Brazil (REC) $262^
Miami, FL (MIA) Salvador, Brazil (SSA) $262^
Miami, FL (MIA) Toronto, ON (YYZ) $112*
Boston, MA (BOS) London Heathrow, United Kingdom (LHR) $180^
Boston, MA (BOS) San Francisco, CA (SFO) $107*
Chicago O’Hare, IL (ORD) Atlanta, GA (ATL) $58*
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, March 27, 2009.
Travel is valid 4/3/09 through 4/7/09.

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

The agreement between the Greek State and MIG (Marfin Investment Group) on the privatization of Olympic Airlines is to be signed at Zappeio Mansion in the afternoon. O.A.’s three companies will be purchased by the Andreas Vgenopoulos for €177.2 million.

MIG will purchase the company’s assets, Panthon’s share-ownership, OA’s technical maintenance and ground handling service.

Present at the signing ceremony will be Finance Minister Giannis Papapathanasiou, Development Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, Transport Minister Evr. Stylianidis and MIG Vice President Andreas Vgenopoulos.

SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left) Parliamentary Group President Alekos Alavanos reiterated the party’s position on the national carrier, adding that the struggle will continue.

He reported that although that the agreement will be signed, his party will continue its struggle, adding that as Greece is a country with regional particularities, safety problems and tourism, it needs a national air-carrier. “For all the above reasons, SYRIZA will continue struggling,” he concluded.

MIG will gain full control of Olympic Airlilnes on 1 October.

ekathimerini

Passengers planning to travel on domestic or international flights today will face disruptions as Olympic Airlines staff stage a 24-hour strike, protesting at the privatization of the ailing national carrier. At least 96 domestic flights are expected to be canceled and many others delayed. Passengers should telephone OA on 210.966.6666 for details about rescheduled flights. Protesters have threatened to stage a series of four rolling 24-hour strikes after Easter, which falls on April 19, unless the Transport Ministry satisfies their salary and pension demands.

US to ICELAND AND BEYOND

Depart from New York-JFK to:
Reykjavik from $437* (best dates to travel; April 22-24, 26-29, May 1-17, 24-31)
Amsterdam from $700*
Stockholm from $690*
Oslo from $690*
Departures valid in April / May

Depart from Minneapolis/St. Paul to:
Reykjavik from $445*(best dates to travel; May 8, 9, 12, 16)
Frankfurt from $700*
Amsterdam from $700*
Stockholm from $690*
Oslo from $690*
Departures valid in May

Easter and Spring in Iceland from Boston

Depart from Boston to Iceland over Easter Weekend (and in April/May; plenty of seats available);

from $437* pp round-trip.
Best dates for travel: April 1 – 11, 21-May 20, 24-30

Depart from Boston to:
Oslo from $519*
Stockholm from $562*
Departures: April / May

Book here

Each Way From To

New York, NY (LGA) Aruba $90
Boston, MA Aruba $120
Pittsburgh, PA Aruba $120
Charlotte, NC Aruba $135
Philadelphia, PA Aruba $150
Philadelphia, PA London $145
New York, NY (LGA) London $145
Chicago, IL (ORD) London $200
Washington, DC (DCA) London $200
Los Angeles, CA London $240

More International USAir e-savers……