Pafos Press 21 September 2025
Larnaca and Paphos airports rank first among European airports in terms of the rate of increase in direct air connectivity, the number of flights and the total number of destinations they serve, Deputy Minister of Tourism Costas Koumis said on Thursday, citing relevant data. In his speech at an event held at Larnaca Airport on the occasion of the five years of operation of the Wizz Air base at Larnaca Airport and the transportation of 10 million passengers to Cyprus, the Deputy Minister of Tourism said that “for island destinations such as Cyprus, air connectivity and its improvement is not just an economic activity but is something very important and much more. When this is achieved, it strengthens economic activity, encourages international trade, enhances travel and becomes a reason to attract investments.”
He added that “these results reflect the excellent cooperation between the public and private sectors, namely Hermes airports and the numerous airlines that operate flights to Cyprus”. The Deputy Minister also referred to the ACI Europe Airport Industry Connectivity Report, published in June 2025, saying that “Larnaca and Paphos airports rank first among European airports in terms of the growth rate of direct air connectivity, the number of flights and the total number of destinations they serve. The increase recorded for 2025 compared to 2024 amounts to 18%. He also noted that “according to the same source, Cyprus ranks second among European countries in terms of the increase in direct air connections, comparing the years 2025 to 2019”. Mr. Koumis also mentioned that “recently, on June 25, we welcomed a fourth aircraft to the Larnaca base, another clear sign of Wizz Air’s long-term commitment to Cyprus as a strategic destination. From 1,631 flight arrivals and 284,151 passengers in 2018, the airline significantly expanded its activities, reaching 5,000 flights and serving almost 1 million passenger arrivals in 2024, recording an impressive 240% increase in 7 years”. In her speech, the Director General of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, Dr. Marina Ioannou Hasapi, stated that the company’s specific achievement “is yet another proof of the dynamic development of the aviation sector in Cyprus. As a Ministry, we are constantly working to strengthen the country’s air connectivity, emphasizing both the quality of services provided to citizens and visitors, and the strengthening of the competitiveness of our economy”. Our goal, she continued, “is for Cyprus to consolidate its role as a regional transport hub, attracting continuous investments and offering modern, reliable and affordable services. At the same time, we support every initiative that contributes to the sustainability of the sector, encouraging innovation, green transition and environmental responsibility”. Dr. Hasapi expressed, on behalf of the Minister of Transport Alexis Vafeadis and the Ministry, “sincere congratulations for this great achievement”, wished even greater success in the future and expressed the certainty that “Wizz Air’s course in Cyprus will continue its upward trajectory, contributing significantly to the progress of the country and its international perspective”. Furthermore, Eleni Kalogirou, Chief Executive Officer of Hermes Airports, in her own greeting, stated that “Wizz Air’s development in Cyprus is a strong demonstration of how a sincere and productive cooperation can be developed. A cooperation from which both parties benefit, with a positive impact that is immediately felt by travellers and, by extension, by the economy and tourism of our country”. He added that “the basis of our successful common path is based on specific pillars, namely effective and regular communication that has been established over the years, immediate response to emerging needs, the ability to read market trends and adapt accordingly and, of course, strong support for our destination”. At the same time, he referred to the second phase of the development works of Cyprus’ airports that began at the end of March and noted that these “are scheduled to be completed within the agreed timetable, in 27 and 30 months respectively for Paphos and Larnaca, ensuring that we will continue to offer excellent services to our passengers, responding to all the requirements of the modern era and building our airports with an eye on the future”. Andras Rado, Head of Communications at Wizz Air, expressed his gratitude for the huge, as he said, achievement in Cyprus and added that “we are proud to celebrate this great milestone of 10 million passengers to and from Cyprus, along with the 5 years of operation of our base in Larnaca”.“Cyprus is one of the most dynamic hubs in our network and we remain committed to offering even more travellers safe and affordable flight options” he said. He added that “we will continue to invest in Cyprus, further strengthening connectivity and supporting the country’s tourism and economy”.