Filenews 6 April 2022
More than 7 million passenger traffic is expected in Cyprus in 2022, said the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Yiannis Karousos, adding that the arrival of passengers is increased by 50% compared to 2021, while at the same time this year there are 50% more seats on the aircraft compared to last year.
Speaking at a workshop on "State Measures for the Support of Entrepreneurship and Funding Opportunities" held last night by the Famagusta OEB Committee in the event hall of the Ayia Napa marina, Mr. Karousos referred to tourism and said that "the best support we can give is to make sure that there will be air connectivity through tourism as well".
He added that "actions have been taken to ensure air connectivity and the strengthening of the sector for a smooth recovery from the effects of the pandemic. At the same time, several moves were made by the Government, the Ministry of Transport and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism to increase connectivity, with positive results".
He explained that "Cyprus has had the smallest decrease in direct connectivity in the whole of Europe in a time of pandemic, while despite the impact of the pandemic, in 2021 the destinations with which Cyprus has air connectivity increased to 158, from the 150 that was in 2019, which was characterized as a landmark year for tourism and passenger traffic".
He also noted that "an Incentive Plan was granted to airlines to deal with the effects of the pandemic, while the Plan was extended until the end of June 2022, with a total cost of 6.13 million euros. It is estimated that it will be exploited by 60 airlines, while the development of other sponsorships is being promoted to deal with the consequences of the war in Ukraine."
Mr. Karousos described as "an important development the transfer to Cyprus of bases of the airlines Skyexpress and Wizz Air and the strengthening of other companies. At the same time, the airlines' flight schedules were expanded by including important destinations in their flight schedules."
At the same time he continued "there are now convenient flights available for airports such as the central of Brussels, Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse and Strasbourg. Connectivity with France has also been enhanced as flights are operated to five cities in the country."
In his speech, the Minister of Transport also mentioned that "for 2022 the estimates referred to passenger traffic in Cyprus of about 9 million passengers, but the estimate was reduced to 7.5 million after the tragic developments with the invasion of Russia in Ukraine", he said and noted that "the arrival of passengers is increased by 50% compared to 2021".
At the same time, he continued, "flights to major tourist markets such as Germany have increased or are maintained in the same number, with 42 flights per week, Austria with 26 flights per week, Poland with 25, France with 20, Switzerland with 17, Sweden with 22, Denmark with 15, Hungary with 15 and the Netherlands with 9 flights per week. There are also 50% more seats compared to 2021 and our goal is for the average occupancy to reach more than 70%".
According to Mr. Karousos "the government proceeded to the liberalisation of the ground handling market, which will improve competitiveness and reduce the cost of airlines significantly".
Regarding the Declaration on Air Connectivity, the Minister of Transport said that "this is an initiative of Cyprus that will be co-signed during a conference in Ayia Napa in the coming months by 13 other Member States of the European Union. The aim is to agree on measures and find tools to finance and enhance connectivity, as well as to protect air connectivity due to changes resulting from the Fit55 action."
In his speech, Mr. Karousos also referred to the ports of Cyprus and the anchorages of the Ayia Napa marina and the Paralimni marina, as well as to the Decrees for the creation of port areas for cruise ships. "The year 2022, the Incentive Plan for cruise ships will also be implemented nationwide," he said.
