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Positive results in terms of passenger traffic, minister says

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Despite the coronavirus pandemic Cyprus has made the most of opportunities, achieving good results in terms of passenger traffic and flights, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said on Thursday.
His comments came on the sidelines of an event organised by the Flight Safety Foundation Mediterranean (FSF-MED).

“Cyprus in the midst of the coronavirus has exploited all windows of opportunity with some very good results in passenger traffic and flights,” Karousos said.

He said that 62 airlines used the island’s two international airports this year, while 157 routes were operated.

Karousos noted that the biggest challenge facing the aviation industry relates to the environment and the implementation of the European Commission’s Fit for 55 package, intended to facilitate a European Union greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 55 per cent by 2030.

This, he said, will result in a significant increase in the cost of air tickets and will in turn adversely affect Cyprus.

Referring to efforts to improve air connectivity in Cyprus, the minister said Cyprus has drafted and submitted to the EU a Declaration on Air Connectivity already supported by seven EU member states, while two more have expressed their intention to sign it. The Declaration aims to extend beyond 2021 the temporary support provided to the air transport sector with regard to connectivity.

In remarks during the event organised by the FSF-MED, Karousos said that in 2020 Larnaca and Paphos airports jointly handled a total of 2,312,697 passengers – compared to 11,273,748 passengers in 2019.

The government has sought to tackle this discrepancy in traffic numbers by adopting various measures.

In particular, an incentives scheme fully funded by the government and addressed to all airlines, has been implemented with the aim of re-establishing the island’s connectivity. The duration of the scheme has been extended to 31 December 2021 and it is expected to provide €8.8 million in aid as an incentives scheme to airlines.

Moreover, a loan of €22.2 million to Hermes Airports Ltd, the operators of the airports, has been granted as a measure to remedy the serious effects on the economy resulting from the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

For his part, FSF-MED Executive Director Christos Petrou said Turkey’s violations of Nicosia’s Flight Information Region inevitably pose serious risks to flight safety, since international and European safety regulations are not followed.

“In fact, these risks will increase if Turkey implements its intention to establish a base for drones at the illegal Lefkoniko airport,” he noted.

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