Air traffic controllers' 24 hrs strike confirmed for 5/10/2011

The air traffic controllers' association confirmed with a press release their participation in the 24 hours general strike of next Wednesday, 5 October.

We would like to remind you that the courts have no authority in strikes organized by the public servants' unions so there will be no flights on 5/10/2011 (unless the atc association changes its mind).

Wednesday for Diagoras means heavy traffic, especially from the UK, so get in contact with your ariline/T.O./travel agent as soon as possible.

We will continuously update this post whenever affected flights are officially announced by airlines.

Source in greek
Source in english

UPDATE 2/10/2011
Easyjet has just announced that it offers free of charge rescheduling for its Wednesday flights to/from Greece. (SOURCE)
As for Rhodes, both Easyjet's UK routes (Gatwick-Rhodes&Liverpool-Rhodes) are affected.

UPDATE 3/10/2011
So far only Aegean has announced on its website cancellations and alterations. Of course this doesn't mean that airlines don't inform their customers via other ways (personal e-mails, phone calls etc.). We will update affected flights whenever official info becomes available.

FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS FOR WED 5 OCTOBER
DOMESTIC AIRLINES
Aegean Airlines (press release) 
Cancells: All flights to/from Rhodes
Alters schedule: -

Olympic Air (press release) 
Cancells: All flights to/from Rhodes
Alters schedule: -

INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES
Thomson Airways (press release) 
Cancells: -
Alters schedule: TOM2332/2333 Manchester-Rhodes-Manchester
TOM7322/7323 Birmingham-Rhodes-Birmingham
TOM3300/3301 Doncaster-Rhodes-Doncaster
TOM4330/4331 Gatwick-Rhodes-Gatwick
TOM7338/7339 East Midlands-Rhodes-East Midlands
TOM1376/1377 Newcastle-Rhodes-Newcastle
TOM6382/6383 Cardiff-Rhodes-Cardiff
TOM1356/1357 Glasgow-Rhodes-Glasgow
TOM6858/6859 Bristol-Rhodes-Bristol 

Easyjet (press release)
Cancells: EZY7267/7268 Liverpool-Rhodes-Liverpool
Alters schedule: EZY8789/8790 Gatwick-Rhodes-Gatwick

Monarch (press release)
Cancells: -
Alters schedule: MON7014/7015 Gatwick-Rhodes-Gatwick
MON3722/3723 Manchester-Rhodes-Manchester

Ryanair (press release)
Cancells: FR3111/3112 Bremen-Rhodes-Bremen 
FR9692/9693 Rome CIA-Rhodes-Rome CIA
Extra Flight: Bremen-Rhodes-Bremen for tomorrow 6/10

Thomas Cook (press release) 
Cancells: -
Alters schedule: TCX3104/3105 Glasgow-Rhodes-Glasgow
TCX6334/6335 Newcastle-Rhodes-Newcastle
TCX2072/2073 Manchester-Rhodes-Manchester
TCX5006/5007 East Midlands-Rhodes-East Midlands
TCX1486/1487 Gatwick-Rhodes-Gatwick

Jet2 press release

REST OF GREECE
Air berlin press release
Germanwings press release
TUIfly press release 

Latest News #3

WINTER FLIGHTS

Besides the negotiations with Easyjet, local authorities will examine the possibility of forming a deal with Arkia which recently announced the end of its winter flights to Rhodes.
Moreover, airberlin and Sun Express expressed their interest but for next winter.
Finally, there might be summer flights to Izmir and Antalya, Turkey as tourism executives will focus on offering mixed packages for both countries.

So, for the time being, Rhodes offers direct international flights only to Tirana, Albania while Rome and Munich are offered by Aegean with a stopover at Athens as well as Larnaca by Cyprus Airways with a stopover at Heraklion.


DEAL WITH COSTA CRUISES

Although Costa begun selling cruises for next summer stating Rhodes as a homeport, the deal is not finalized and in fact may be in danger as there is no progress in satisfying their key demand.
The cruiseliner asked for dedicated indoor space at the central port zone and although local officials agreed to refurbish a customs warehouse, securing the necessary funds for doing so seems very difficult. 



AVIATION WORKSHOP IN RHODES - 21 OCT 2011

Hellenic Aviation Society along with local officials organize a workshop in Rhodes with central subject the examination of low-cost carriers effects on regional development. There will be interesting guests (Easyjet and Aegean for example). You can have a look here.

Easyjet winter flights to Rhodes???

     



As we already posted previously, we 've been informed that local authorities were in negotiations with a low-cost airline for the commencement of winter flights to Rhodes.

Well, news say that there are still negotiations but we also now know the name of the carrier; Easyjet is the airline participating in the negotiations and we all hope that both parties will reach to a mutually beneficial agreement because not only there is a need for winter international flights to Europe but also because time pressures for including the route(s) to the airline's current schedule.

As for the possible winter routes, we can only speculate; London Gatwick would be more than sure, Liverpool would also stand its chances even for a weekly flight serving north UK and maybe a german city (Berlin i.e.) although the openning of an entirely new route seems difficult for the winter.

Anyway, we all hope for a deal, as soon as possible. 

Cyprus Airways Routes - Winter 2011/12

Cyprus Airways will continue serving both Larnaca and Heraklion for the winter with 3 flights per week. Please note that bookings can also be made for next summer season with the route increasing to 4 flights per week, Mo-We-Fr-Su.


LARNACA (LCA) - RHODES (valid 2/11 - 25/3)*

Outward Flight: LCA-RHO via HER
Flight Nr	Dep.	Arr.	A/C	Frequency	Remarks
CY468	15:30	18:40	A319	We-Fr-Su	Via HER
Return Flight: RHO-LCA via HER
Flight Nr	Dep.	Arr.	A/C	Frequency	Remarks
CY469	19:30	22:35	A319	We-Fr-Su	Via HER

HERAKLION (HER) - RHODES (valid 2/11 - 25/3)*

Outward Flight: HER-RHO
Flight Nr	Dep.	Arr.	A/C	Frequency	Remarks
CY468	17:50	18:40	A319	We-Fr-Su
Return Flight: RHO-HER
Flight Nr	Dep.	Arr.	A/C	Frequency	Remarks
CY469	19:30	20:20	A319	We-Fr-Su

For more information and/or reservations, please visit Cyprus Airways website.

* Based on Cyprus official website on 26 September 2011.

Strikes for this week (26/9-2/10)

Brand new post as we decided its better to have a weekly dedicated post for strikes. So, for this week and until now we have:

Air Traffic Controllers for Wed 28/9
Cancelled as the courts declared it illegal. (Source in greek)

Taxis for Wed 28/9 & Thu 29/9
The 48 hours has been announced for this Wednesday and Thursday, still unverified if Rhodes taxis will participate or not.
UPDATE: Rhodes taxis will not strike. 

Next strikes: 5/10 and 19/10 for the whole public sector, confirmation of atc participation pending...

Belle Air Routes - Winter 2011/12

Belle Air seems to enjoy satisfying results on its Tirana-Rhodes route as it will go on for the winter period with a flight per week.
UPDATE 2/11/11
Belle air will be flying twice per week the Tirana-Rhodes route as a Thursday flight has been added. Moreover, the scedule has gone back 1 1/2 hours with new departure times while flight duration points to turbo-prop service instead of jet.
UPDATE 14/1/12
Flights drop to one per week till end of March when the Thursdays flight is re-introduced.
UPDATE 12/3/12
Flights will continue operating once a week until 10 of June when summer schedule applies.

TIRANA (TIA) - RHODES (valid 15/1 - 10/6)*

Outward Flight: CRL-RHO
Flight Nr	Dep.	Arr.	A/C	Frequency	Remarks
LZ991	06:00	09:20	*	Su
Return Flight: RHO-CRL
Flight Nr	Dep.	Arr.	A/C	Frequency	Remarks
LZ992	10:00	11:20	*	Su

For more information and/or reservations, please visit Belle Air website.

  

* Based on Belle Air official website on 24 September 2011. Updated on 2/11/11, 14/1 and 12/3/2012.
* Aircraft type not specified. Belle Air utilizes a mixed fleet of AT75, A319/20s and MD82.

Transavia Routes - Summer 2012

The dutch low cost carrier has so far uploaded its next summer schedule for the Amsterdam-Rhodes route which continues with 3 flights per week.
We will update whenever HV makes available the rest of its Rhodes plan.
Update 26/1/12: Paris Orly-Rhodes service added.
Update 25/4/12: Groningen-Rhodes service added.




AMSTERDAM (AMS) - RHODES (valid 8/4 - 28/10)*

Outward Flight: AMS-RHO
Flight Nr	Dep.	Arr.	A/C	Frequency	Remarks
HV473	06:15	10:50	*	Tu	1/5-2/10
HV785	06:25	11:00	*	Th	26/4-25/10
HV573	06:30	11:10	*	Su
Return Flight: RHO-AMS
Flight Nr	Dep.	Arr.	A/C	Frequency	Remarks
HV474	21:45	00:35	*	Tu	1/5-2/10
HV786	21:45	00:35	*	Th	26/4-25/10
HV574	22:05	00:55	*	Su

GRONINGEN (GRQ) - RHODES (valid 1/5 - 2/10)*

Outward Flight: GRQ-RHO
Flight Nr	Dep.	Arr.	A/C	Frequency	Remarks
HV167	15:05	21:00	*	Tu
Return Flight: RHO-GRQ
Flight Nr	Dep.	Arr.	A/C	Frequency	Remarks
HV167	11:35	14:20	*	Tu

 
PARIS ORLY (ORY) - RHODES (valid 22/4 - 2/9)*

Outward Flight: MXP-RHO
Flight Nr	Dep.	Arr.	A/C	Frequency	Remarks
TO3514	14:45	19:15	**	Su
Return Flight: RHO-MXP
Flight Nr	Dep.	Arr.	A/C	Frequency	Remarks
TO3515	20:00	22:55	**	Su

* Aircraft type not specified. Transavia utilizes a fleet of NG B737s, the -700 and -800 variants.
** Orly service operated by Transavia France.

For more information and/or reservations, please visit Transavia website.

* Based on Transavia official website on 24 September 2011. Updated on 26/1, 18/3 & 25/4/2012.