Hermes Airports expects to handle around 9,3 million passengers from its two airports in Larnaca and Paphos in 2017, an increase of 3,6% from last year. This is considered a great achievement, as last year was the one that broke all records with air traffic increasing by 18% from 2015 which translates to an additional 1,37 million passengers. Aegean, Thomson airways and Easyjet lead the airline race in market shares, while according to Hermes Airports, 38% of passengers choose traditional airlines.
The two airports serve a large number of markets and companies from 40 countries, while there are more than 140 routes to 115 destinations. However, Hermes Airports figures show a strong reliance on three markets that account for 67% of air traffic (Britain, Russia, Greece), although it appears that Israel and Germany are gaining ever larger shares.
Air traffic per category
According to Hermes Airports, 38% of passengers choose traditional airlines that have connectivity in different countries of the world.
Charter flights are followed by those who choose them amount to 28%, while 19% of passengers from Cyprus choose low cost airlines. Finally, 15% of passengers choose hybrid airlines, which are essentially the evolution of low-cost airlines as they add additional services.
Market shares
According to Maria Kouroupi, Senior Communications and Marketing Director at Hermes Airports, Aegean tops Hermes's list of the largest companies in the market with 10,2%. Essentially, Aegean relies on its advantage that 35% of its passenger traffic travels through Athens to other destinations. In second place is Thomson with 8,3%. Thomson, which works with TUI for UK-only flights, has expanded in the last year and is operating year-round. Easyjet is in third place with a percentage of 7,7%. According to Ms. Kouroupi, in recent years, in addition to England, the company has also introduced European routes. For example, it is the only company that goes to Basel or Milan.
With 7,3%, Rossiya follows, which serves Biblioglobus, followed by Ryanair with 5,9%. As Ms. Kouroupi points out, Ryanair has opened up some markets such as Italy and Germany. "Initially, the company focused on Greece, while now it is changing course as it replaces its flight to Athens with Israel", he adds.
Blueair holds the sixth place with a percentage of 4,6%, which entered dynamically when Cyprus Airways left the forefront. "New routes have opened to Luton and Birmingham. "Blueair is accelerating slowly but at a steady pace", stresses Ms. Kouroupi.
In next place is Cobalt with a percentage of 4,2%. The company has great ambitions as this year it will have 5 planes with new routes to England, Greece and recently Madrid and Paris.
According to Ms. Kouroupi, in eighth place is Jet2 (4%), which this winter will take the big step and expand its services throughout the winter of 2017. Next is Thomas Cook World with a market share of 3,7 , XNUMX%. Although it had a decrease as an airline, as a tour operator it had an increase mainly from countries such as England, Germany and Austria.
Finally, as Ms. Kouroupi notes, Wizz air (3,6%) has had an upward trend over the last three years. "It launches flights every year, while this year it plans 13 flights to Cyprus and focuses on Eastern Europe," he says.
Source: Phileleftheros / Dimitra Landou