Air Intersalonika SA, an air charter company based in Thessaloniki-Hellas, northern Greece, has been in operation since 1996. Air taxi and photography make up the bulk of the company's business. \rThe company's fleet consists of an Ecureuil AS350BA with a capacity of four passengers plus two crew. A Bell 206 arrived in December, 1999, and a P31 pressurised Navajo has been working hard for the company since April 1998. These latter two aircraft are said to be in the final stage of receiving their own AOC.\rSaid Athanasios Karabelas of Air Intersalonika: "We have owned a Bell 206 helicopter before, that is why we chose this model. The new one is configured for four to seven people; it has flown 120 hours so far.\r"I'll tell you something," Karabelas continued. "We are a group of companies, mainly insurance companies; that means that we usually use customers from our insurance company to benefit our charter business.\r"Our helicopters fly mostly in northern Greece. The Balkans are rather sticky for corporate aviation. That means that, considering the fact that a helicopter (due to its slower speed) is more expensive, we can do some things better with an aeroplane."\rAccording to Karabelas, Air Intersalonika is the only company in northern Greece to have an AOC. "There are 17 other charter companies in Greece, including Olympic Airways," he said. "Business has been increasing, that's why we bought a second helicopter."\rThe company's livery is a representation of the Macedonian Dynasty sixteen-bladed sun; a very Greek image. "Most of our customers are from Northern Greece, which means they like our sign better than they would like another representation," said Karabelas. \r"Do you think that Greek companies are coming to see the benefits of corporate aviation?" EBAN inquired. "Let's put it this way," Karabelas cogitated. "We think that the Balkan states have some difficulties in their transportation networks. In order to be in the exact place at the exact time they have to use corporate aviation." Between 20 and 30 per cent of Air Intersalonika's business is said to be centred in the Balkans.