Passenger traffic rebounds in 2023, breaking 2019 record

Statistics clearly show that satisfactory rates of passenger traffic at Cyprus’ two international airports have returned for good, following the difficult period of the pandemic and also other geopolitical crises.

First of all, it should be mentioned that during 2023, a total of 157 routes were offered by 56 airlines, providing connectivity between Cyprus and 39 countries, the result of the joint efforts of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, Hermes Airports Ltd and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism.

3% increase compared to 2019
In his announcement at the beginning of December 2023, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Alexis Vafeades, stated that 2019 had been a year of record passenger traffic, while, compared to 2019, 2023 was expected to show an increase of around 3%.

According to the data provided by Hermes Airports, up to the figures of October 2023, total passenger traffic at both airports amounted to 10,378,829. Of this number, Larnaca International Airport had 7,175,925 passengers and Paphos International Airport had 3,202,904 passengers.

Interestingly, from May (if not April) to October 2023, passenger traffic consistently stood at over a million at both airports combined.

The best period for Larnaca and Paphos was the quarter of July-September. More specifically, at Larnaca International Airport in this period passenger traffic reached 3,029,748 and 1,276,958 at Paphos International Airport during the same quarter.

In the whole of the relevant eight month period of 2023, passenger traffic was at a clearly higher level than in the three years of 2020-2022. In more detail, in 2022 the total passenger traffic of the two airports reached 9,216,829, in 2021 the figures were at 5,109,462 and in 2020 at 2,312,697.

Based on this data, and with the months of November and December 2023 still remaining, 2023 is expected to surpass 2019's landmark year of 11,273,748 passengers.

(Source: InBusinessNews)