Filenews 15 April 2023 - by Adamos Adamou
Spectacular, for the time being, is the increase in passenger traffic at the two airports of the country, reinforcing the expectations and goals of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism to increase tourists this year by 5% - 10% compared to last year. Targets that may be exceeded, as passenger traffic so far, in terms of arrivals and departures, already exceeds the levels of the record year of 2019. We remind you that in 2019 records were recorded both in tourism, as arrivals reached four million, and in passenger traffic in particular, since more than 11 million passengers (arrivals-departures) were handled for the first time from Larnaka and Pafos airports. This record in terms of passenger traffic is at least expected to approach airports this year, without even surpassing it, based on estimates by Hermes Airports.
The traffic at airports so far confirms the positive estimates, as in the first quarter passengers handled from Larnaka and Paphos exceeded not only the corresponding number last year, but also that of 2019. In fact, and based on Hermes Airports' data, the first quarter of this year was the best in the history of Cypriot airports.
Specifically, in the first quarter of this year, 1,525,093 passengers travelled to and from the two airports of the country compared to 854,711 in the same period last year and 1,399,442 in the first three months of 2019.
Compared to 2022, passenger traffic records an increase of 78.43% and compared to 2019 there is an increase of 8.98%. An increase in passenger traffic was recorded at both Larnaka and Paphos airports. Larnaka Airport handled 1,038,240 passengers in the first quarter of this year compared to only 538,203 last year and compared to 1,024,333 in the same period of 2019.
Pafos Airport handled 2023,486 passengers in the first three months of 853 compared to 316,508 in the same period last year and compared to 375,109 in 2019. We remind you that in 2022 the total number of passengers handled by the two airports of the country -departures and arrivals- amounted to 9,216,829 compared to 5,109,462 in 2021, a year when, as in 2020, the tourism industry was hit by a pandemic, recording an increase of 80%.
Compared to 2019, which was a record year for passenger traffic, which had reached 11,273,748 at the time, last year there was a decrease of 18%. Tourist arrivals last year amounted to 3,201,080, compared to 1,936,931 in 2021 and compared to 3,976,777 in 2019, which was the best year in the history of Cypriot tourism.
We'll catch on in 2019
The airport operator does not rule out that this year's positive start will reach a new record in passenger traffic this year, pointing out that the desire for travel continues to exist, while Hermes' moves are also strengthening.
Characteristically, the Senior Manager of Aviation Development, Marketing and Communication of Hermes Airports, Maria Kouroupi, speaking to "F", referred to the incentives that continue and significantly enhanced the country's connectivity in recent years. Asked to comment on the data so far on passenger traffic, the increase presented and the company's estimates for the future, Ms. Kouroupi expressed the estimate that this year will be very close, if not higher, than 2019.
"The first three months of this year record the largest passenger traffic we have ever had at Cypriot airports," he said, adding that the dynamics identified are due to a number of reasons: "The increased desire to travel continues to be evident, with our country maintaining its strong attractiveness in travellers' choices.
At the same time, in previous years at Hermes Airports we had launched several agreements with the airlines in order to open new markets, hence the connectivity of our country has now been significantly enhanced with direct connection to 38 countries with 140 destinations and 50 airlines.
At the same time, the incentive schemes, in which Hermes has invested more than €120 million over the last ten years. The euro is a very essential tool for the development of our country's connectivity." In addition, Kouroupi said, in order to enhance the itineraries, Hermes has made targeted online campaigns that "identify" potential visitors, promoting Cyprus and highlighting alternative forms of tourism and the authenticity of the experiences offered by Cyprus. In conclusion, he expressed confidence "that this year will be very close, if not higher, than 2019".
Cyprus is the champion and with the bull of ACI EUROPE
The strong recovery of traffic at the country's airports was confirmed for another month by the International Airports Council of Europe (ACI EUROPE), recording the performance of European airports in February.
Cyprus recorded the highest increases in passenger traffic in February compared to last year (+92%), followed by Austria (+81%). Passenger traffic across the European airport network increased by 48% in February compared to the same month last year – when travel remained constrained by pandemic-related restrictions.
Compared to pre-pandemic levels (February 2019), passenger traffic in the EU recorded a decrease of 12%, but with significant differences in the performance of different airports.
Cyprus, however, is among the countries that recorded an increase compared to February 2019.
Specifically, according to the ACI EUROPE announcement, the best performance was recorded at the airports of Portugal (+18.9%), Luxembourg (+10.9%), Cyprus (+9.7%), Malta (+5.3%) and Bulgaria (+4.9%).
In contrast, airports in Slovakia (-46.7%), Slovenia (-38.5%) and Germany (-33%), the Czech Republic (-29.9%) and Sweden (-28.3%) continue to record significant losses compared to February 2019. This is due, according to the agency, to a number of factors, including the impact of the war in Ukraine, the lack of penetration or loss of traffic of low-cost carriers and industrial action.
