Passenger traffic drops at LCA airport

…as Cypriots go local for holiday

Passenger traffic at Larnaca airport fell 6.2% in May and 1.9% in June 2006 while aircraft using the airport also registered a drop of 7.5% in May and 3.9% in June according to the Statistics Department, while cargo traffic was up 0.8% YoY. During June cargo traffic was down 4% through Larnaca.

In contrast, passenger traffic was up 11.5% in May and 0.9% in June and 9.3% in May and 0.9% in June while cargo was down 17.6% in May and 209% in June 2006.

Cypriots stay home

The Statistics Service meanwhile revealed that during July 2006 the number of local travelers fell 10.3% YoY to 102.000 compared to 113.700 in July 2005, mostly as a result of the hostilities in Lebanon.

Travel to Greece, the top destination for Cypriots was also down by 13.8% YoY to 46.9k from 54.5k a year ago in July. Lebanon scored the worst performance, with total travel to the war-ravaged country declining by 56.2% YoY, while travel to Syria was also down 48%. Travel to Egypt and Israel also fell by 52.4% and 17.5% respectively.

On a positive note, travel to Russia and the UK was up 21.3% and 4% respectively.

According to the Statistics Service, 57% of those who traveled abroad were female. The same data show that 69% traveled for pleasure, 15% for business and 13% for study.

Total travel during the first seven months of 2006 showed a decline of 0.4% to 513.200 from 515.200 in Jan-Jul 2005. According to the Chairman of the Cyprus Travel Agents (ACTA), Akis Kelepeshis, the number of residents traveling abroad this year is expected to hover around the same levels of last year.