G.A.T. (Greek Air Transport)(Hellenic Airlines)(Hellas)

GAT (Hellenic Airlines) was formed in 1947. It was a joint-operation with Scottish Aviation., which took a 40% stake in the company and the Greek state and armed forces jointly holding 60% of the company. From its base in Prestwick, Scotland, Scottish Aviation trained the Greek crews and maintained the company’s fleet. Due to the financial difficulties of all three carriers (Air Transport of Greece, G.A.T. (Greek Air Transport) (Hellenic Airlines) and T.A.E. (Technical and Aeronautical Exploitations), and to ensure that Greece maintained a Greek-flagged carrier, in 1951, the Greek government forced the merger of all three companies into TAE Greek National Airlines
< operated domestic and international based out of Athens Hellenikon Airport >

[ – In 1955, TAE Greek National Airlines was not performing financially and the Greek state sought unsuccessfully to find a buyer. Eventually, Aristotle Onassis agreed to buy the ailing carrier in Jul1956. The company flew under the name T.A.E. until Apr1957, when the airline was renamed Olympic Airways
< operated without competition on domestic routes in Greece and served a small number of European and Middle Eastern cities >]

[ – Olympic Airways was founded in 1957 when Aristotle Onassis took over TAE-Greek National Airlines . Renamed in late 2003, integrating the operations of Olympic Airways, Olympic Aviation and Macedonian Airlines (i) when the carrier was renamed to Olympic Airlines]

[ – On 16Sep2008 the Greek Government announced a major restructuring of Olympic Airlines, using the “Pantheon Airways” plan. Pantheon operated parallel to Olympic Airlines until Apr2009, when Olympic Airlines was shut down and Pantheon would take over most of its routes. Pantheon would then be renamed using the Olympic Air brand name and its six-rings logo. On 06Mar2009, Development Minister Kostis Hatzidakis announced the sale of the flight operations and the technical base companies to Marfin Investment Group (MIG). The new carrier had its inaugural flight ceremony on 01Oct2009
< regional airline based out of Athens International Airpo, Spata with hubs at Thessaloniki International Airport and Rhodes International Airport >]

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