CYPRUS. More than seven million passengers passed through Larnaca and Pafos International Airports in 2007, a +3.94% increase on 2006, and a new record for passenger traffic at Cyprus’s airports.
The figures break the previous record set in 2005 of 6,781,643 passengers. Over 5.2 million passengers travelled through Larnaca International Airport in 2007, up +7.16% on 2006. In December alone, the two airports handled over 325,000 passengers, a +10.9% increase on December 2006, as passengers flew into and out of Cyprus for the holiday season.
Hermes Airports CEO Bob Manning said: “We are delighted at this record passenger figure for 2007, which further demonstrates the attractiveness of Cyprus as a business and leisure destination. The key growth markets were Greece, Russia, Scandinavia, Austria, Romania, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria.
“During 2007, significant positive developments took place for Cyprus Airports, including new airlines, new services and major improvements to facilities at both Airports. In 2007, new flights from the UK and Ireland were launched by low cost carriers flyMonarch, Flyglobespan and XL.com. New flights and increased frequencies between Vienna and Larnaca were introduced by both SkyEurope and Austrian Airlines. Low cost carrier Jazeera Airways launched new flights to Kuwait, and GB Airways introduced a significantly increased schedule of flights between London Gatwick and Pafos.”
Manning added: “2008 will be a very exciting year for Cyprus as we open the new airport terminal in Pafos in November and welcome more new airlines, new routes and additional frequencies to our route networks at both Larnaca and Pafos.”
Lufthansa, CSA Czech Airlines, Royal Jordanian Airlines and Gulf Air have announced increased frequencies for 2008. From 30 March, easyJet, with the purchase of GB Airways, will launch flights between London Gatwick and Pafos, and Manchester-Pafos, currently operated by GB Airways. UK low cost airline Flyglobespan will launch weekly flights between Edinburgh and Pafos while Jet2.com will launch twice-weekly flights between Leeds-Bradford and Pafos.
In recent days British Airways and flyMonarch have announced new services to Pafos and Larnaca respectively.
MORE STORIES ON HERMES AIRPORTS
Passenger traffic at Larnaca and Pafos airports on course for record year – 18/12/07
Hermes Airports receives presidential seal of approval at new Pafos terminal – 26/11/07
CTC-ARI Airports and Hugo Boss unveil new-look store at Larnaca Airport – 17/08/07
CTC-ARI Airports and Glenfiddich prize draw promotion attracts 3,000 entries – 02/08/07
