Aviation

Qatar Airways gave Thessaloniki, Greece, a taste of Middle Eastern hospitality and five-star services at this year’s Philoxenia International Tourism Exhibition, organized by TIF-Helexpo in November. The airline participated in the Greek expo for the second consecutive year.

Passengers left stranded in the rare and unfortunate event of an airline bankruptcy will be offered “rescue fares” from airlines to ensure they can get home, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Greek carrier Aegean Airlines has announced the cancellation of 97 domestic flights and 65 international flights on Thursday, 27 November, due to a 24-hour strike scheduled by Greek air traffic controllers.

Flights in Greece will be disrupted and there will be no ferry services in the country on Thursday, 27 November, as the Greek Air Traffic Controllers’ Association and the Pan-Hellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) will participate in a 24-hour general strike.

Greek state privatization fund TAIPED has selected the Fraport AG-Slentel consortium as its preferred bidder in the tender procedure for the right to manage and operate 14 Greek regional airports.

Τhe important role aviation plays in the Greek tourism chain was discussed during a recent conference held by the Hellenic Association of Airline Representatives (SAAE) and attended by representatives of the airline industry, associations and Athens International Airport (AIA).

Greece is interested in connecting Athens to Beijing via charter flights, Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) Secretary General Panos Livadas informed Chinese travel agents on the sidelines of the recent China International Travel Mart (CITM) in Shanghai.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently announced global passenger traffic results for September showing demand growth of 5.3 percent (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) over September 2013.

Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni underlined the crucial role of the transport sector in the development of the tourism industry and invited all industry players to invest and contribute to the “national affair” of ensuring that the Greek tourist product is known for its quality, efficiency and functionality.

The Travel and Transport Task Force stands firmly with the World Health Organization (WHO) against general bans on travel and trade, as well as restrictions that include general quarantine of travelers from Ebola-affected countries.