THE SPOKESMAN for Helios Airlines at Larnaca Airport, Nicos Anastasiades, claimed yesterday the company has had few cancellations since the crash of flight ZU522 on Sunday, which killed 121 people.
“Surprisingly, there were not that many cancellations, even after the terrible news on Sunday. Our customers have shown us tremendous support,” said Anastasiades.
This was not the case of some 300 Cypriots stranded on the Greek island of Kos, who have refused to travel home on any of Helios’ aircraft. One hundred and fifty passengers eventually left on a Eurocypria flight to Larnaca early yesterday. Travel agencies have arranged for those remaining to be put up in hotels for the time being.
Asked when these people would be returning to Cyprus, Anastasiades replied:
“We are not able to say for sure when these people will be able to get a flight back.
We are seeking an aircraft but I am not sure if one has been found yet.
“I am also not sure when flights from Prague will arrive.”
Another Helios flight, scheduled to fly at 9am on Monday morning from Larnaca to Sofia, was boycotted by both the crew and all 100 passengers. Once passengers discovered that the crew had not arrived at the airport for the flight and were refusing to fly the plane, they too refused to board, demanding that they either travel on an alternative airline or receive a full cash refund. After some considerable delay, a flight run by another airline, which had arrived from London was announced. However, by the time this announcement was made, many passengers had already gone home, and were refusing to travel.
David Jeremiah, a resident of Cyprus, expressed his concern about flying with Helios.
“I was planning to travel with my wife from Larnaca to Luton on the morning of August 18, but there is no way we are travelling with Helios now. My wife is far too scared, and I too am concerned about the safety of the flights. Under no circumstances will we be persuaded to travel on a Helios flight. They have inspired no confidence with us at all.
“I have heard all sorts of rumours about the fleet, including allegations that there have been heating and pressurisation problems in the past. I want a reason for the crash on Sunday and I want to know that what is left of the fleet is not faulty too. I live in Paphos, and I have heard that Helios’s Paphos office alone has already had 10 cancellations today,” Jeremiah added.
“I have contacted Helios, who have refused to refund us for our tickets. I also asked if it would be possible to travel with another airline, but the company also refused this request. Even when I threatened to sue, the company insisted that I would not get any money back, save the airport taxes. Frankly, the whole thing stinks,” Jeremiah concluded.
Antonis Kouparis, a student from Nicosia was almost on the fateful flight to Prague, but changed his mind in favour of flying with a Czech airline.
“I was supposed to be travelling to Prague with a friend of mine, and we were initially planning to travel with Helios. Luckily, we changed the booking beforehand, in favour of travelling with a Czech airline. I never had much faith in Helios in the first place, and now I have none at all. I would never travel with them now,” he added.
