OLYMPIC AIRLINES

HISTORY:

Founded when Aristotle Onassis took over TAE – Greek National Airlines (founded in 1951 through a merger of TAE, Hellas and Aero Metafora Ellados), which had been nationalized in 1954. In 1971 a subsidiary, Olympic Aviation was formed for managing short-haul, light aircraft and overhaul operations. Onassis withdrew in 1974 following heavy losses and the airline was grounded until the Greek government bought the airline the following year. Operations resumed in January 1976. In June 1999, Speedwing, the consultancy subsidiary of British Airways, signed a contract to manage Olympic Airways for 30 months. This was short-lived and the Greek government has been trying unsuccessfully to find a buyer for around 65% of the airline ever since. The airline changed its name from Olympic Airways to Olympic Airlines on 12 December 2003, integrating the airline operations of the former Olympic Airways, Olympic Aviation and Macedonian Airlines.

26/7/1957