Cyprus is this year experiencing its best year in terms of air connectivity, with 2025 emerging as a record year for Cypriot airports, with passenger traffic already exceeding 13 million total passengers.
In fact, following the very good summer season, this year's winter season also shows a noticeable increase compared to the corresponding period last year, an element that demonstrates that the efforts of both the airport management company, Hermes Airports, as well as the state and tourism operators to extend the tourist season and increase Cyprus' connectivity are bearing fruit.
Speaking to InBusinessNews, the Director of Aviation Development, Marketing and Communication at Hermes Airports, Maria Kouroupi, stressed that "the year we are going through and is coming to an end is the best that Cyprus has ever had in terms of air connectivity."
As she explained, "on the last day of November, we reached 13 million passengers since the beginning of the year, but more importantly, we had direct flights on 160 routes operated by a total of 60 airlines in 41 countries."Equally important, she indicated, is the improvement in passenger traffic in the non-peak months, where an increase of 15-18% is recorded compared to the corresponding months in 2024.
"The impressive results of recent years, despite the challenges we have been called upon to manage, demonstrate in practice the resilience and dynamism of our destination. They also confirm that our strategy for enhancing air connectivity is on the right track, a strategy that delivers, opens up new prospects and further strengthens our country's position on the international travel map," underlined Kouroupi.
Airlines and flights
Asked how many airlines are expected to fly from Larnaca and Paphos airports during the winter season, she said that during the winter season a total of 34 airlines will operate flights from Larnaca and Paphos, and specifically, 34 airlines will operate flights from Larnaca and 11 from Paphos.
Regarding the number of flights that will take place during the winter season, Kouroupi stated that "a total of 13,143 flights are expected to take place from our airports during the winter season. Specifically, 9,805 from Larnaca and 3,338 from Paphos. At the same time, it is estimated that the daily number of passengers from the two airports will range from 25,000, 18,000 from Larnaca and 7,000 from Paphos."
Asked to say what the differences are compared to the corresponding period last year, the Director of Aviation Development of Hermes Airports told InBusinessNews that the increase in flights compared to last year amounts to a total of 18%.
Specifically, she pointed out, Larnaca is showing an increase of 15%, while Paphos is showing a 26%. At the same time, according to Kouroupi, flights will be operated to four new markets, while a total of 13 new routes have been added.
From Larnaca the new routes are: Barcelona, Skopje, Tirana, Bratislava, Gyumri, Timisoara, Suceava, Cluj and Venice, while from Paphos the new routes are: Düsseldorf, Amman, Haifa and Yerevan.
Direct flights with USA and India
Asked how discussions on direct flights with the US and India are progressing, Kouroupi stressed that "contacts are being made with airlines from both countries, but a comprehensive effort is needed in which other bodies, including the State, will be involved, because the key to achieving direct flights is creating demand."
"To do this, multi-level promotion of Cyprus in these markets and targeting specific customer categories is needed," she further pointed out.
Expanded connectivity
Asked whether there are any thoughts on developing discussions or discussions are taking place with other countries to further expand Cyprus' connectivity, the Director of Aviation Development of Hermes Airports stated that "Hermes Airports is implementing a comprehensive strategy to enhance connectivity, which is based on continuous dialogue and close cooperation with airlines and other relevant bodies, both in Cyprus and abroad."
Our main goal, he added, is to fill existing gaps in the connection network, expand existing flight schedules and, of course, increase year-round routes to the country's two airports.
"We have given priority to certain cities that present significant prospects for the launch of direct flights as well as other European destinations. The distance of Cyprus creates greater difficulty and cost for airlines. However, this can be compensated for when Cyprus becomes an attractive destination in various markets, resulting in satisfactory demand," he added.
In any case, concluded Kouroupi, "we see that our targeted actions in various markets are bearing fruit, a fact that is reflected in the positive results and the strengthening of our presence in new destinations, leading to a further increase in passenger traffic."
(Source: InBusinessNews)
