The airline was incorporated in May 2006 by a team of industry veterans and operated charter flights and aircraft leasing on an ACMI basis.

[5] The airline commenced scheduled operations on 30 May 2009 with services between Athens and Birmingham UK, Jeddah Saudi Arabia, and Casablanca Morocco.

Hellenic Imperial Airways launched its new website in April 2010 as a part of a promotional campaign for the company's new activities.

[6] In early May 2010, Hellenic Imperial announced it was to begin scheduled services to Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport on 8 June 2010.

[8] On 24 June 2011, Hellenic Imperial Airways inaugurated its first direct flight HT0411 from Athens to New York JFK operated by Boeing 747-200B as opposed to the planned Airbus A340-300.