Greece Bans Macedonian Airlines From Using Its Air Space

Text of report in English by Macedonian state news agency MIA

Skopje, 29 April: Greece’s aviation authorities failed to provide a permit for entering and flying over the Greek territory to Macedonian Airlines (MAT) plane, which operated from Skopje to Sharm al-Shaykh, even though the flight was previously approved by Eurocontrol. As a result, the flight was stopped, while the plane was forced to land in Istanbul, where it obtained another permit and flight plan and then took off to Sharm al-Shaykh via Cyprus. The plane transported 86 Macedonian citizens, who were travelling to Egypt, as well as 4 members of the crew.

MAT officials say this is severe violation of international law and provisions stemming from the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), which is signed by both Macedonia and Greece, while plane’s diverting due to unspecified reasons represents a security threat under the jurisdiction of Greece’s aviation authorities. MAT’s flight ban breached the first Chicago freedom, after the third one for flying in Greece has been unavailable for years.

MAT board of directors at Tuesday’s [29 April] emergency meeting reached a decision to file suit against the Republic of Greece in the International Court of Justice in Strasbourg. The Ministry of Transport and Communications, Civil Aviation Agency, the Foreign Ministry, and all relevant international institutions are informed about the incident.

MAT says they are satisfied with the reaction triggered by the Government in relation to the previous incidents, stressing that now is the time for implementing reciprocal measures to Greece, having in mind that all planes operating from Thessaloniki to European cities have to fly over Macedonia.

The company estimates that unless Greece continues to ban flights over its territory, MAT will sustain heavy financial losses, especially during the summer when about 50 charter flights per month operate toward Egypt’s tourist resorts.

MAT faces problems with the Greek aviation authorities due to company’s name containing the word Macedonian.

Originally published by MIA news agency, Skopje, in English 1401 29 Apr 08.

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