About nine million passengers were handled at Larnaca and Paphos airports during 2016, almost 1,3 million more than in 2015, with the largest increases recorded in the markets of Russia, the United Kingdom, Greece and Israel.
A Hermes Airports press release states that "official Hermes data for 2016 show" a significant increase in the number of passengers and further strengthening of the connectivity of Cyprus, through the operation of new airlines and the introduction of new routes ".
It adds that in 2016 a total of 8,974,163 passengers were handled (1,365,000 passengers more than in 2015), recording an increase of 18%. At Larnaca airport an increase of 24,5% was recorded and at Paphos airport 2,6%. According to Hermes Airports, the most significant increases were recorded in Russia (+ 47%), the United Kingdom (+ 13%), Greece (+ 14.5%) and Israel (+ 47%).
In addition, the press release continues, "the network of Cypriot airports was enriched by the operation of 11 new airlines and the introduction of a total of 21 new routes, thus strengthening the connectivity of the island. The new companies, Cobalt Air, Pobeda, TUS Airways, Ellinair, Air Berlin, Azur Air, Yan Air, Wind Rose, Alitalia and Israir, carried around 428 thousand passengers, while the increase in flights on existing routes resulted in an increase in passenger traffic by 919 thousand passengers ".
The Chief Executive Officer of Hermes Airports, Eleni Kalogirou, stated that "2016 ended with the best omens. These results have a direct positive impact on the economy and tourism of Cyprus ".
He said, however, that the results "do not allow for complacency and that the coordinated efforts of Hermes, as well as other tourism stakeholders, must be continued and intensified."
Under these conditions, Ms. Kalogirou estimated that the upward trend is expected to continue in 2017.
Source: SigmaLive