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Greece's historic national carrier with a legendary legacy.
Founded
1957
Headquarters
Athens, Greece
Olympic Airlines was the flag carrier of Greece, tracing its origins to the founding of Technical and Aeronautical Exploitations SA in 1951, before being rebranded as Olympic Airways. The airline was famously acquired by Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis in 1957 and operated as a state symbol of Greek aviation for decades, serving numerous domestic and international routes.
Following years of financial difficulties and European Union pressure over state subsidies, the original Olympic Airways was shut down in 2003. A successor company, Olympic Airlines, operated from 2003 until 2009, when it was privatized and merged with Aegean Airlines. The Olympic brand was briefly revived under Aegean's ownership before being fully integrated.
Throughout its history, Olympic was known for its distinctive blue-and-white livery reflecting the Greek flag, and it played a central role in connecting Greece to the world, particularly during the peak years of Greek tourism in the latter half of the 20th century.
Hubs & network
Olympic Airlines operated primarily out of Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, with secondary operations at Thessaloniki Macedonia Airport.
Fleet
At various points in its history, Olympic operated Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Airbus A300, and ATR turboprop aircraft on its domestic and international networks.
Notable facts
- ›Aristotle Onassis acquired control of the airline in 1957 and shaped its early identity.
- ›The airline was nationalized by the Greek government in 1975 after Onassis's death.
- ›Olympic Airways was forced to cease operations in 2003 due to EU rulings on illegal state aid.
- ›A restructured Olympic Airlines operated from 2003 to 2009 before being acquired by Aegean Airlines.
- ›The airline's blue-and-white livery and Olympic rings logo made it one of Europe's most recognizable carriers.
This profile is provided for general information only. Contact details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airline's official website before acting on them.
