Filenews 24 December 2024
In the context of yesterday's signing of the new management agreement of the two airports by Hermes Airports, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeadis expressed optimism that the new agreement, as well as the development and expansion projects, will increase by about 50% the number of passengers recorded this year.
According to Hermes Chief Executive Officer Eleni Kalogirou, from 6.7 million passengers at Cypriot airports eighteen years ago, "just yesterday we reached 12 million total passengers for the first time, while in 2024 it is expected to close around 12.2 million passengers, an increase of 82%".
For his part, the Minister of Transport expressed optimism that the trend "will be continuous and upward", and that "we will manage for the planning period, ie until 2036, to increase passenger traffic by 50% compared to today".
The works for the expansion of Larnaka and Pafos airports will be carried out in parallel at both airports and it was agreed to start at the end of the first quarter of 2025, after the completion and signing of the loan agreements between Hermes Airports and the banks that will finance the projects and after obtaining the necessary planning approval.
As stated in a joint statement by the two parties, "the negotiations that took place between the parties resulted in an agreement to extend the duration of the Concession Agreement by 18 months and to pay compensation of €30 million, as well as borrowing of €20 million. from the Republic of Cyprus to the company, against the withdrawal of claims of the company and its rights to compensation, due to the operation of the illegal airport of Tymbou".
For Larnaka Airport, the works concern expansion works of a total area of approximately 20,000 sq.m. measures of the terminal building, the construction of new passenger embarkation/disembarkation gates, with the creation of a new wing that will be connected to the main building, as well as an increase in aircraft parking areas. The duration of completion of the projects is estimated at 30 months.
At Pafos Airport, projects will be implemented that increase by approximately 30% the area of the building, as well as extend the southern parallel taxiway to upgrade the safety and capacity of the runway/taxiway system. The works are expected to be completed within 27 months of starting.
