TO:	AHI Chapter Presidents, Members & Friends
FROM:	Nick Larigakis, AHI President
DATE:	April 3, 2012
Re:	CONTACT UNITED CONTINENTAL’S PRESIDENT JEFFERY SMISEK TO EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT WITH CANCELLATION OF DIRECT ROUTE TO ATHENS

BACKGROUND

United Continental Holdings, Inc., the world’s largest airline since the merger of United Airlines and Continental Airlines, terminated the seasonal non-stop flight from Newark (EWR) to Athens, Greece (a Continental route) in November 2011.

On March 26, 2012, the American Hellenic Institute (AHI) and the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) sent a joint letter to United Continental Holdings Inc.’s President and CEO Jeffery A. Smisek expressing disappointment with United Continental’s decision to cancel the non-stop Newark to Athens route. In addition, the letter recommends United Continental to implement a seasonal route from Washington/Dulles (IAD) to Athens.

• Click here to download the AHI – AHEPA letter to United Continental 

STATUS

• As of April 2, 2012, Mr. Smisek has not replied to the March 26 joint letter from AHI and AHEPA.

As such, we encourage the Greek American community to voice its strong desire for United Continental to address this issue. 

ACTION

We urge you to contact United Continental Holdings Inc.’s President and CEO Jeffery Smisek to express disappointment with the cancellation of the seasonal non-stop from Newark, N.J. to Athens, Greece and to recommend the addition of a seasonal non-stop route from Washington/Dulles to Athens.

TALKING POINTS

• Greece is a Top 20 tourism destination.
• Greece’s commitment to lift cabotage restrictions and other measures to facilitate trade, commerce, and tourism demonstrates Greece is determined to become a number one tourism destination, especially for cruises. (Note: Cabotage is the transport of goods or passengers between two points in the same country by a vessel or an aircraft registered in another country.)
• The European Union’s second loan to Greece has lent confident to the nation and the tourism sector is taking advantage by offering increased travel and lodging deals.
• The Greek American community is strongly committed to helping Greece and does so chiefly through travel to Greece.
• Recommend the addition of a Washington/Dulles to Athens seasonal non-stop route that would connect two of the world’s greatest capital cities.

CONTACT BY EMAIL

Send a concise and courteous email to United Continental’s President/CEO Jeffery Smisek, JeffSmisek@united.com utilizing the talking points listed above.

CONTACT BY MAIL

Mr. Jeffery A. Smisek
President and Chief Executive Officer
United Continental Holdings, Inc.
77 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60601

QUESTIONS?

For further information or questions, please contact AHI, (202) 785-8430, or email demetra@ahiworld.org.

THANK YOU!