Sky Greece reached the point, with 1000 passengers with tickets that were just worthless pieces of paper, and the Canadian Civil Aviation Authority imposed useless fines on the company’s dead body, to be mourned today.
Sky Greece didn’t really deserve that ending. We dare to formulate this opinion because we knew firsthand and from the beginning of this endeavor, the possibilities that this Airline had, both theoretically and in practice.
When we witnessed its design in Canada 5 years ago, we had the welfare, knowing most of its basic founders personally, we expressed our views to them. These views that were emanating from 43 year experience in international aviation.
We stressed then that the business environment in the field, both in Canada and in Hellas, was not suitable for a successful venture.
Because in Canada, on one hand, Air Canada had gradually implemented plans for long-term flights to and from Greece, while, on the other hand, Air Transat had strong allies and together, combined with a hotel network in our country, they created the conditions for very serious air bridge in our country, which was unbeatable with the packages that they offered.
The founders objected, projecting their own business connections in Canada, and the aircraft they were to obtain.
We expressed our technical reservations about that as well, both then and more recently, during a meeting some months ago, reservations that were unfortunately verified.
We would like to note at this point that we offered some form of rescue outlets for their company recently, but they were left unanswered.
And so Sky Greece reached the point, with 1000 passengers with tickets that were just worthless pieces of paper, and the Canadian Civil Aviation Authority imposed useless fines on the company’s dead body, to be mourned today.
Its unfortunate employees in Hellas were left hanging in the “air”. Its pieces, souvenirs, are sold online.
The Government’s Minister of Tourism, apparently without having been informed by her consultants about the “void” of chances of company, a few months ago, participated in a triumphant press conference. That is indicative of her inexperience in the field.
That great idea that would carry it out the connection of the Canada Diaspora with the Motherland, in a regular transatlantic basis, is grounded at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.
All the cities in Canada, that hoped for that legendary interconnection with Hellas, are truly sorry for the outcome. The moral remains timeless and unshakeable.
Large business expectations in aviation affairs require long-term planning. Certain logistical infrastructure. Weighting of rival players in the sector. Less triumphalism from the businessmen and the mandarins of tourism in our country.
Seriousness in all aspects in order to have a perspective. Difficult steps, which, at one point, must become a lesson for everybody, politicians and businessmen, without exception.
Emmanuel A. Gyzis is managing partner of Emmanuel A. Gyzis & Associates Law Offices.
Emmanuel A. Gyzis is managing partner of Emmanuel A. Gyzis & Associates Law Offices.
He was born in Athens, Greece, 13 January 1947; admitted to Athens Bar Association 1974. Education: University of Athens, Law School (1972), London, (L.LM. 1980), specialized in Aviation Law and originally worked in the respective field on behalf of British Tour Operators and Charter companies.
With longstanding journalistic and writing activity, his articles have been published in financial newspapers and magazines specialized in Aviation and Tourism. Author of pioneering monographs on the development issues of Olympic Airways (1989), he has published during a course of many years, a series of articles regarding its viability, its position in the international environment, as well as for other private airlines in general, while at the same time he participated in relevant International and Greek Conferences and Organizations. Successful and long-term engagement with issues regarding private airports / heliports, Low Cost Carriers (LCC), Aircraft Fractional Ownership, Ground handling matters. At his law firm “EMM. GYZIS AND ASSOCIATES”, together with a group of specialized associates he deals mainly with aviation law issues (cooperation with construction companies for commercial aircraft and leasing companies) and tourism law issues, specializing in mass tourism from/ to Greece and occasionally cooperating with Tour Operators. Since 1993, he has founded a number of Greek and foreign airline companies, on behalf of his clients, in accordance with the applicable legal status. He has participated in committees for the drafting of legislation regarding air transport, such as private airports, the Presidential Decree for private heliports and the Basic Legislation of the Aviation Code and he is the General Secretary of the Hellenic Aviation Society. For many years, he has been studying emerging markets, as a consultant for foreign companies, which plan to invest worldwide.
LANGUAGES: English.
MEMBER: Athens Bar Association, International Bar Association, European Society of International Law (ESIL), American Society of International Law (ASIL), British-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, Greek-American Union, Hellenic Aviation Society.
PRACTICE AREAS: Aviation Law, Aerospace Law, Tourism and Transport Law, (European) Commercial and Company Law. Arbitration. Establishment and Operation of foreign companies in Greece. Project Finance. Free Movement of Capital. Privatization. Foreign/ Hotel Investments. Mergers and Acquisitions.
