The Union of Greek American Travel Agents (GATA) is expressing concerns over the fate of approximately 1500 Olympic Airlines passengers who have return tickets dated after September 30th, the date the airline is set to conduct its final flights. As the current situation is, the manner of return of these passengers remains unknown, after Olympic Airlines was sold in March to Marfin Investment Group (MIG). Despite the fact that the New Olympic has not yet unveiled its plans, it is considered certain that it will discontinue the Athens-New York route as it did with the flights to Canada and Australia.
According to “Greek News” newspaper, both passengers and travel agents (who are recipients of thousand of frantic calls by passengers inquiring about their returns) notes that they have not been notified as to how the passengers will return, while at the same time, Olympic’s information hotline in Athens, has not been answering calls for days, In the US, despite the addition of 50 extra Olympic staff members, they are also unable to provide information about the passengers returns. According to international agreements, in the event of an airlines discontinuation of flights or services, they are obligated to secure return trips to ticket-holding passengers.
The Union of Greek American Travel Agents (GATA) met last week in NY where it was decided for the formation of a committee to meet with the airline and other officials, aimed at finding a solution to the problem. In was also decided a press conference be held on Thursday to all the members of the diaspora mass media in order to publicize this serious issue.
According to a GATA member, information concerning a code-sharing plan between the New Olympic and Delta airlines for the Athens-New York route has not been verified. It also appears that not even the “old” Olympic had reached an agreement with DELTA in securing the 1500 passengers return.
source: voice of greece
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