Ryanair about to pull the plug on Larnaca?
MORE trouble could be brewing for the island’s ailing tourism industry, as reports yesterday claimed low-cost Ryanair was thinking of suspending flights to Cyprus’ airports.
The reports were yesterday neither denied nor confirmed.
“There is no comment at this current stage, but when there is something worth announcing you will be informed accordingly,” Hermes Airports’ spokesman Adamos Aspris told the Cyprus Mail yesterday.
He was commenting on reports that Ryanair was reassessing its agreement with the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) for four flights to and from Larnaca airport, as well as another agreement between the airline, the state and Hermes Airports for Paphos Airport. Both agreements are expected to expire in October.
According to reports, Ryanair is seeking double the amount offered under the CTO incentives to carry on its Larnaca flights; a demand that, given the economic circumstances, can’t be satisfied.
Similarly, Ryanair is reportedly asking the state to scrap landing fees at Paphos; also not a possibility.
CTO chairman Alekos Oroundiotis yesterday said he could neither confirm, nor deny the airline was thinking of leaving Cyprus.
“What I can say is that it is a fact that we are at the stage of discussing whether to continue our co-operation with Ryanair,” said Oroundiotis. “Ryanair’s schedule will continue until October and after that, it is a fact that Ryanair has expressed some concerns over its Larnaca flights, due to increased fuel costs. So they are concerned whether they should continue or not.”
Ryanair operates four flights from Larnaca; Barcelona Girona, Bologna in Italy, Brussels Charleroi, and Dusseldorf Weeze, all regional rather than main airports, which is the airline’s modus operandi. It also operates 15 destinations from Paphos, where it set up a hub in April this year.
Even though he initially denied the CTO was offering Ryanair financial support, when asked if what the reports said regarding double the amount in incentives was true, Oroundiotis said: “I’m not saying it is correct or wrong; I’m not commenting.”
He said the CTO had the same agreement with Ryanair as with any other airline or tour operator, and this had to do with promoting Cyprus abroad, and advertising.
The communications ministry’s permanent secretary, Alecos Michaelides, yesterday said he wasn’t aware of any such issue.
“We have not been informed on this matter,” said Michaelides. “The minister has been away for the past few days, but we will ask to be informed and see.”
http://m.cyprus-mail.com/ryanair/ryanair-about-pull-plug-larnaca/20120731
MORE trouble could be brewing for the island’s ailing tourism industry, as reports yesterday claimed low-cost Ryanair was thinking of suspending flights to Cyprus’ airports.
The reports were yesterday neither denied nor confirmed.
“There is no comment at this current stage, but when there is something worth announcing you will be informed accordingly,” Hermes Airports’ spokesman Adamos Aspris told the Cyprus Mail yesterday.
He was commenting on reports that Ryanair was reassessing its agreement with the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) for four flights to and from Larnaca airport, as well as another agreement between the airline, the state and Hermes Airports for Paphos Airport. Both agreements are expected to expire in October.
According to reports, Ryanair is seeking double the amount offered under the CTO incentives to carry on its Larnaca flights; a demand that, given the economic circumstances, can’t be satisfied.
Similarly, Ryanair is reportedly asking the state to scrap landing fees at Paphos; also not a possibility.
CTO chairman Alekos Oroundiotis yesterday said he could neither confirm, nor deny the airline was thinking of leaving Cyprus.
“What I can say is that it is a fact that we are at the stage of discussing whether to continue our co-operation with Ryanair,” said Oroundiotis. “Ryanair’s schedule will continue until October and after that, it is a fact that Ryanair has expressed some concerns over its Larnaca flights, due to increased fuel costs. So they are concerned whether they should continue or not.”
Ryanair operates four flights from Larnaca; Barcelona Girona, Bologna in Italy, Brussels Charleroi, and Dusseldorf Weeze, all regional rather than main airports, which is the airline’s modus operandi. It also operates 15 destinations from Paphos, where it set up a hub in April this year.
Even though he initially denied the CTO was offering Ryanair financial support, when asked if what the reports said regarding double the amount in incentives was true, Oroundiotis said: “I’m not saying it is correct or wrong; I’m not commenting.”
He said the CTO had the same agreement with Ryanair as with any other airline or tour operator, and this had to do with promoting Cyprus abroad, and advertising.
The communications ministry’s permanent secretary, Alecos Michaelides, yesterday said he wasn’t aware of any such issue.
“We have not been informed on this matter,” said Michaelides. “The minister has been away for the past few days, but we will ask to be informed and see.”
http://m.cyprus-mail.com/ryanair/ryanair-about-pull-plug-larnaca/20120731
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