In the pantheon of global airlines, few carry the historical weight, national symbolism, and dramatic trajectory of Olympic Airlines. For over five decades, the Greek flag carrier, originally known as Olympic Airways, was more than just an airline; it was a proud ambassador for Greece, a vital lifeline connecting its countless islands, and a global link for the vast Greek diaspora. Born from the ambitious vision of a shipping magnate and later a symbol of national pride, Olympic’s journey was a rollercoaster of soaring achievements, economic turmoil, and relentless reinvention, culminating in its complex end and the birth of a new era.
The Onassis Era: A Golden Age Takes Flight (1957-1970s)
The roots of Olympic Airlines trace back to earlier Greek carriers, but its true distinctive identity began on April 6, 1957. It was on this date that the legendary Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis acquired the struggling state-owned airline, Technical and Aeronautical Exploitations (TAE), and dramatically rebranded it as Olympic Airways. Onassis, a man known for his audacious ambition, poured significant investment into the airline, transforming it from a struggling entity into a symbol of Greek modernity and luxury.
Onassis’s vision was to create a world-class airline, reflecting his belief in top-tier service and efficiency. He invested heavily in a new, modern fleet, a stark contrast to the disparate collection of aircraft the airline inherited. The initial fleet under Onassis included Douglas DC-3s for domestic routes and Douglas DC-6Bs for longer European services. A pivotal moment came in 1960 with the introduction of the de Havilland Comet 4B, making Olympic one of the early European operators of pure jet aircraft. This move drastically cut travel times and allowed for comfortable service to major European capitals like London, Paris, and Rome.
The 1960s were truly Olympic Airways’ golden age. Onassis continued to expand the fleet with advanced aircraft, including the Boeing 707, which facilitated the launch of ambitious long-haul routes. On June 1, 1966, Olympic introduced its highly anticipated Athens to New York service with the Boeing 707, a direct link to the vast Greek-American community. This was followed by routes to Australia (Sydney and Melbourne) and South Africa (Johannesburg), establishing Olympic Airways as a truly intercontinental carrier.
During this period, Olympic’s service was renowned. Onassis insisted on luxury, offering gourmet meals, spacious seating, and stylish cabin crew uniforms designed by fashion icon Pierre Cardin. The airline even placed an option for Concorde supersonic jets in 1973, though these were never delivered. Olympic Airways was not just a means of transport; it was an extension of Onassis’s empire, embodying a blend of Greek hospitality and international sophistication.
Nationalization and Economic Turbulence (1970s-2000s)
Despite its glittering image, Olympic Airways’ operations were often intertwined with the political and economic realities of Greece. Following the death of Onassis’s son, Alexander, in a plane crash in 1973 (though not an Olympic aircraft), and the mounting financial pressures on the airline due to the 1970s oil crisis and high operating costs, Onassis decided to divest from the airline. On January 1, 1975, Olympic Airways was nationalized by the Greek state.
Under state ownership, the airline continued to operate an extensive network, but it began to accumulate significant debts. Political interference, overstaffing, and a lack of commercial agility plagued its finances. Despite these issues, the airline continued to modernize its fleet to some extent. In the late 1970s and 1980s, it introduced the Boeing 727-200 and the Airbus A300 wide-body jets, which became workhorses for its high-density domestic routes and regional international services. The early 1990s saw the arrival of the Boeing 737-400, a more modern narrow-body for its short-to-medium haul routes.
However, the financial bleeding continued, with cumulative deficits mounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. The European Union increasingly scrutinized the Greek government’s continuous state aid to Olympic, deeming much of it illegal under EU competition rules. Repeated attempts at privatization throughout the 1990s and early 2000s failed due to various factors, including lack of suitable bidders, labor union resistance, and the sheer scale of the airline’s debt.
Main Hubs: Athens – The Unwavering Center
Throughout its entire operational history, Olympic Airlines (and Olympic Airways before it) maintained Athens as its undisputed and sole primary hub.
- Hellenikon International Airport (ATH, old airport): For most of its existence until 2001, Olympic operated from Hellenikon Airport. This was the vibrant center of its vast network, where all its domestic and international flights converged.
- Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” (ATH, new airport): With the opening of the modern Athens International Airport in March 2001, Olympic Airlines relocated all its operations. This state-of-the-art facility served as its main hub until its final cessation of operations.
Athens was the strategic heart of Olympic’s network, crucial for connecting the mainland with the countless Greek islands and for serving as the primary gateway for international travelers to Greece. While it had smaller operational bases or focus cities on major islands like Rhodes (RHO) and Thessaloniki (SKG), Athens remained the central node for its entire system.
The Fleet: A Diverse Evolution
Olympic Airlines operated a wide array of aircraft types over its history, reflecting technological advancements and changing operational needs:
- Propeller Era: Douglas DC-3 (Dakota), Douglas DC-4, Douglas DC-6, NAMC YS-11 (turboprop). These were essential for its initial domestic and regional routes, particularly to the islands.
- Early Jet Age: De Havilland Comet 4B (its first jet), Boeing 707 (long-haul icon), Boeing 727-200 (medium-haul workhorse), Boeing 720B.
- Wide-body Era: Boeing 747-200 (for long-haul intercontinental routes to North America and Australia), Airbus A300B2/B4/605R (for high-density domestic and European routes).
- Modernization (Late Years):
- Boeing 737-300/400: Became the primary narrow-body aircraft for its domestic and European network.
- Airbus A340-313X: Introduced in the late 1990s, these were its most modern long-haul aircraft, serving routes to North America and Australia, and symbolizing its last attempt at global competitiveness.
- ATR 42/72: Turboprop aircraft used by its regional subsidiary, Olympic Aviation (later Olympic Airways Services), for flights to smaller Greek islands and regional destinations.
- Bombardier Dash 8-100: Also operated by Olympic Aviation for very short domestic routes.
At its peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Olympic operated a significant fleet, including dozens of Boeing 737s, Airbus A300s, and several Boeing 747s and A340s.
Route Information: Spanning Continents and Isles
Olympic Airlines’ route network was incredibly extensive, fulfilling its mandate to connect every corner of Greece and serve the global Greek diaspora.
- Domestic Network: This was its lifeline, connecting Athens and Thessaloniki to dozens of Greek islands and mainland cities. Key destinations included:
- Islands: Crete (Heraklion, Chania), Rhodes, Corfu, Mykonos, Santorini, Kos, Lesbos, Samos, Chios, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, and many smaller islands often served by turboprops.
- Mainland: Thessaloniki, Alexandroupolis, Ioannina, Kalamata, Kavala.
- European Network: Extensive services to almost all major European capitals and important regional cities, including London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Frankfurt (FRA), Rome (FCO), Amsterdam (AMS), Brussels (BRU), Madrid (MAD), Barcelona (BCN), Vienna (VIE), Zurich (ZRH), Munich (MUC), Berlin (TXL/SXF), Copenhagen (CPH), Stockholm (ARN), Dublin (DUB), and many others.
- North America: Direct flights to key cities with large Greek communities: New York (JFK), Montreal (YUL), and Toronto (YYZ). Historically, also served Chicago (ORD) and Boston (BOS).
- Australia: Long-haul services to Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL), crucial for connecting with the significant Greek diaspora in Australia.
- Africa: Flights to major cities like Johannesburg (JNB), Cairo (CAI), Alexandria (ALY), and Addis Ababa (ADD).
- Asia & Middle East: Connections to Tel Aviv (TLV), Beirut (BEY), Damascus (DAM), Amman (AMM), Kuwait (KWI), Jeddah (JED), and historically to Bangkok (BKK) and Singapore (SIN) as part of its Australia route.
The Final Curtain and The Birth of Olympic Air (2009)
Despite repeated restructuring efforts, capital injections, and privatization attempts, Olympic Airlines’ financial situation remained dire. The European Commission continued to pressure Greece over illegal state aid. The global financial crisis of 2008-2009 delivered the final blow.
In 2009, the Greek government announced a radical plan: Olympic Airlines would cease all flight operations and undergo a privatization process. On September 29, 2009, Olympic Airlines officially ceased its flight operations. The “old” Olympic Airlines effectively entered liquidation.
Its routes, particularly the crucial domestic and regional services, were immediately taken over by a new private airline, Olympic Air. This new entity, initially owned by the Marfin Investment Group, acquired the Olympic brand name, the iconic ‘O’ logo, and the right to use the five Olympic rings. The goal was to shed the old airline’s massive debts and start fresh with a commercially viable model. The transition was largely seamless for passengers, with Olympic Air taking over most of the routes and some of the fleet (like the Dash 8s and ATRs) and staff.
In 2010, Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines (Greece’s other major private airline) announced a merger, but this was blocked by the European Commission due to competition concerns. However, in 2012, Aegean Airlines successfully acquired Olympic Air. Today, Olympic Air operates as a regional subsidiary of Aegean Airlines, primarily focusing on domestic routes to the Greek islands, while Aegean handles the international and main domestic routes.
A Legacy Etched in the Sky
The story of Olympic Airlines is a complex narrative of national aspiration, economic struggle, and the formidable challenges of operating a state-owned airline in a globalized market. It was an airline that, for a time, epitomized luxury and global reach, connecting Greece to its diaspora and the world. Its struggles and eventual transformation into Olympic Air reflect the broader restructuring of national flag carriers in Europe.
While the original Olympic Airlines is no longer in the skies, its name and the spirit of the Olympic Rings continue to fly on the aircraft of Olympic Air, a testament to its enduring legacy as a symbol of Greek connectivity and its proud, albeit turbulent, journey through the history of aviation.
Keyword: DeadAirlines