Increase in UK flights, Hermes Airports says

A significant increase in air travel to and from Britain has been recorded in the week since quarantine restrictions were lifted in the UK, Hermes Airports said on Tuesday.

It was announced last week that strict travel advice for Britons to avoid Cyprus had been lifted, prompting optimism amongst the battered tourism industry.

Flights to Britain rose to 36 last week and are expected to increase to 85 per week by the end of July, said Maria Kouroupi, senior manager of aviation development, marketing and communication at Hermes Airports.

Compared to the same period in 2019, the best year on record, there were 250 flights per week, Kouroupi told CNA.

She noted that while there is still a long way to go, as Cyprus remains in the ‘Dark Red’ of the ECDC country risk profile, the situation travel wise has certainly improved compared to last year.

The ECDC’s risk profile of Cyprus plunges the island into further uncertainty and could likely lead to further cancellations, she said.

Kouroupi further stated that six airlines are carrying out flights to and from 18 British airports, including: Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Doncaster, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Luton Manchester and Newcastle.