Ban lifted on air ambulance firm
A private flying ambulance company has won a battle to continue providing services to clients despite a six-month-old ban from the state Civil Aviation Authority (YPA), following a decision by the Council of State that was made public yesterday. The company, Interjet, had argued that the ban – issued despite the fact that it possessed a valid license – would financially ruin it. Company representatives told Greece’s supreme administrative court that Interjet had already invested heavily in three specially equipped helicopters and an airplane, and, if forced to stop operations, would be forced to reduce jobs. Interjet was licensed in December 1998 to carry patients in stable condition with its aircraft but was banned from doing business in September 2001. The ban followed representations to YPA by the Ministry of Health, which insisted that under the state ambulance service’s terms of operation, private firms cannot offer similar services. The court found that the ban was a result of the ministry’s policies and had nothing to do with Interjet’s ability to carry out flights.
