In recent decades, Greece has been a relatively stable nation with a very unstable airline. Once Olympic Airlines collapsed, it appeared that Aegean Airlines would restore stability to the sector, and meanwhile instability confronts the country. Now Aegean's status is being challenged as seven years of profitability turn into losses and the carrier pins its future hopes on a merger with the other Greek airline, Olympic, a vestige of the former flag. But now the European Commission has raised doubts about the prospects of the merger being able to meet EU competition standards.