LONDON – National flag carrier Cyprus Airways will start operating direct flights from Larnaca to Paris and Rome, the airline announced on Tuesday.
Speaking from Cyprus’ pavilion at the World Travel Market event in London, the company’s CEO Paul Sies said that the flights to Paris will start on December 16, while the route to Rome is scheduled to start on December 20.
“We have had a lot of work in the past months, last summer was very good and now we are looking towards the winter. We are in a pleasant position to announce two new routes this December from Larnaca,” Sies said.
He explained that flights to Paris Charles De Gaulle will take place three times per week, while the company’s planes will fly to Rome Fiumicino airport two times per week.
Creation of digital tour operator
The flag carrier’s CEO also announced the creation of a fully digital tour operator for the company, under the name Cyprus Airways Holidays.
“The tour operator will offer exclusive holiday packages with Cyprus Airways in the best hotels in Cyprus, as well as in hotels in destinations where we fly abroad.”
“For example, someone can book holidays from Cyprus to Rome, Paris, as well as in other new and existing destinations,” Sies said.
Asked to comment on the tourism industry landscape after the pandemic, Sies noted “Cyprus is a unique destination, as we had to reinvent tourist after COVID-19. And let’s be honest, geopolitical developments had our work cut out.”
“It had a big impact on Cyprus Airways. We managed to surpass these challenges, and I think that as an island we are reinventing tourism and Cyprus Airways is a real part of this effort,” he concluded.
Tourism expansion – Cyprus and Jordan
Cyprus Airways route expansion in Europe with the pending inauguration of non-stop Rome and Paris services comes at a time when Cyprus is seeking to extend tourism in the post-pandemic era.
A collaboration between Cyprus and Jordan on tourism was revealed on Monday night by the two countries’ Ministers during a social event at London’s City Hall on the sidelines of the World Travel Market exhibition.
Deputy Tourism Minister Savvas Perdios referred to the many common elements of the two countries as well as to the good connectivity between Cyprus and Jordan which can offer visitors a common tourist package to both countries.
Perdios pointed out that what makes the offer stand out is the opportunity to visit two countries in one trip. As he said both countries share the vision of attracting tourists throughout the year. The initiative will also target visitors from remote destinations as well, Perdios added.
Jordanian Tourism Minister Nayef Hamidi Mohammed Al-Fayez also referred to this joint effort to increase tourist arrivals in the area and pointed out the many opportunities existing so that this will be achieved. As he noted, there is no reason for the two countries to compete with each other when they can cooperate to attract more visitors even during the whole year.
