European Regions Airline Association

The government has defended its announcement on Thursday of a one-off payment to low-income pensioners and its suspension of a value-added tax increase on the islands of the northern Aegean in anticipation of reactions from Brussels, as the European Commission said on Friday that it was not fully aware of the details of the measures.

In the latest development, the European Commission spokesperson on Financial Affairs, Annika Breidthaerdt said in a press briefing that the European Commission was unaware of the details of the Greek PM’s announcements, responding to a question by protothema.gr.

Germany's flagship carrier Lufthansa said it would cancel nearly 900 flights on Nov. 23 because of a strike by pilots, causing travel disruptions for tens of thousands of passengers in the latest escalation of a long-simmering pay dispute.

A total of 11 Turkish fighter jets violated Greek air space in the central and northeastern Aegean Wednesday, according to Greek defense officials who said there was one dogfight between Greek and Turkish aircraft.

Five Turkish military jets reportedly violated Greek air space in the central and southeastern Aegean on eight occasions on Friday, authorities said.

The fighter jets also entered the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) five times.

None of the aircraft was armed, authorities added.
 

Dozens of Greek domestic flights are to be canceled after the union representing aviation workers, OSYPA, called a strike from 10 a.m. on Thursday to midnight on Friday.

Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air said they were canceling around 70 flights.

Passengers due to travel should contact their airlines for information.

The airline industry is crying foul over government practices that are hampering its growth, with Aegean Air vice chairman Eftychis Vassilakis attributing the stagnation in the carrier's figures to increased taxes and charges and the poor official response to the migrant crisis.

Aegean Airlines swung to a loss in the first half of 2016 due to weak demand at home and a value-added tax increase, Greece's largest carrier said on Monday.

The company reported a net loss of 23.7 million euros in the first half of the year, versus a profit of 14.8 million in the same period last year.

Sales were flat, at 403.5 million euros.

Six Turkish fighter jets flying in formation and another four flying separately carried out a total of eight violations of Greek air space in the northeastern, central and southeastern Aegean on Friday.

Of the 10 Turkish aircraft. two were armed, according to Greek defense sources who said that all Turkish jets were chased off by Greek aircraft.

There was one dogfight. 

Greek passenger airlines Olympic Air and Aegean decided to schedule emergency flights to the Aegean and Ionian islands to accommodate travelers, in light of the 4-day transport strikes that have affected sea travel. The extra flights will be from Saturday May 7 till Tuesday May 10, and are the following: