Business as usual, says OA
Olympic Airlines (OA) said yesterday that there was no danger of it closing down despite news from Brussels that Greece has two months to recover 161 million euros in illegal state aid it paid to the troubled air carrier. The state-owned airline was responding to speculation that the Commission’s decision will result in an immediate shutdown of its operations. «Olympic Airlines will continue to operate, fulfilling its obligations to the utmost and continuing with the (same flight) program,» OA said. Earlier in the day, Brussels threatened to fine the Greek government for so far failing to recover the illegal aid. The Commission said yesterday it would ask the EU’s high court to impose financial penalties if Greece did not respond within two months. Greece was ordered to recover the money from Olympic in 2002 on the grounds that the funding infringed EU rules.
