Greek government exits the jet set

(AP) Greece's prime minister has decided to get rid of two of the government's three jets as part of the debt-crippled country's cost-cutting efforts.

A government statement says Antonis Samaras has instructed officials to hand over the biggest of the planes to the air force, which will use it for pilot training and as a medical transport.

A second Embraer jet will be sold, and the proceeds given to the armed forces whose budgets have been cut over the past two and a half years of austerity.

Monday's statement says the government will keep the third aircraft, but make it available to the air force when it's not used for state missions.

Greece is being kept solvent by billions in international bailout loans, granted in exchange for stringent spending cuts.