Hellenic Airlines

Hellenic Airlines "Hellas" S.A.
Ελληνικαί Αεροπορικαί Συγκοινωνίαι ΕΛΛ·Α·Σ Α.Ε.

IATA ICAO Callsign Hellenic
Founded	1947
Ceased operations	1951
Hubs	Athens Hellenikon Airport
Fleet size	8
Destinations	16
Headquarters	Athens, Greece
Key people	General Tsarpalis

Hellenic Airlines (Greek: Ελληνικαί Αεροπορικαί Συγκοινωνίαι, also known by its literal name, Greek Air Transport), often abbreviated ΕΛΛ.Α.Σ. in Greek and sometimes also known as Hellas in English, was a Greek-flagged airline that operated domestic and international airline service from 1947 to 1951. It was absorbed into TAE Greek National Airlines in 1951.

In the post-World War II era, in order to foster competition in the Greek airline industry, the Greek government chartered a total of 4 airlines; Technical and Aeronautical Exploitations (Greek: Τεχνικαί Αεροπορικαί Εκμεταλλεύσεις), or TAE, was a privately owned airline that had ceased operation prior to the Second World War but had resumed operations. Hellenic Airlines was founded in 1947, along with Air Transport of Greece (Greek: Αεροπορικαί Μεταφοραί Ελλάδος) and Daedalus Airlines (Greek: Δαίδαλος).

Hellenic Airlines was a joint-operation with Scottish Aviation, Ltd., which took a 40% stake in the company and the Greek state and armed forces jointly held 60% of the company. From its base in Prestwick, Scotland, Scottish Aviation trained the Greek crews and maintained the company's fleet.

Hellenic Airlines operated twice-weekly services from Glasgow/Prestwick to Athens via London, Paris and Rome using their B-24 Liberator which also served Alexandria, Cairo and for a brief time, Tel Aviv. DC-3 Dakotas served the domestic markets and Nicosia, Cyprus starting in March 1948.

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