Hermes Cyprus to build 5-star hotel at Larnaca airport
Sarkozy invited to airport opening on November 7
French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been invited to inaugurate the 656-million-euro new terminal building at Larnaca airport on November 7, built by French construction giant Bouyges.
Nicos Shacolas, chairman of the operator Hermes Airports, said that Cyprus president Demetris Christofias invited his French counterpart to attend the ceremony, but that it all depended on Sarkozy’s busy schedule.
“If Mr. Sarkozy decides to visit Cyprus, we will welcome him and with great honour and enthusiasm”, Shacolas added.
Shacolas added that the construction of both Larnaca and Paphos airports, the biggest public projects in Cyprus, were delivered ahead of time, with the Larnaca terminal completed in just three years and 39 days, instead of three years and six months, as part of the 25-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) concession.
Currently there are more installations under construction, he said, including transit cargo, additional parking areas, four new gas stations and more, with an extra cost of 52,9 mln euros.
There is also a provision and a commitment in the agreement with the government that if the passenger traffic increases, then both Cyprus’ airports can be expanded for Larnaca to increase its capacity from 7.5 mln to 9 mln passengers and for Paphos to serve 2.7 mln, up from the present 1.8 mln. These developments, he added, will raise the cost of both projects to 804,5 mln euros.
Shacolas added that “we have already submitted to the government specific plans and designs for the creation of a modern five storey airport hotel, including restaurants and conference areas, as well as a leisure centre, all totalling 200 mln euros.”
Shacolas said he believed the government’s response will be positive and construction of the new hotel will begin three months upon approval.
“I believe before the end of 2011, the new airport hotel will be operational,” he said.
We are also planning a better, productive use of the existing facilities at the old Larnaca airport, Shacolas added, noting however that Hermes does not have a specific plan in mind. “For about a year, the old airport will be operating in the form of stand by. Afterwards, the site will be used for offices, commercial use or other purposes. We will not allow the site to be abandoned”, he said.
Hermes Airports CEO Adriaan van der Meer said that there will be additional charges for passenger bridges, but these will be offset by the abolition of the buses service. Other new charges include a smaller fee for security.
Van der Meer said about 70% of the aircraft using the airport will be able to use the bridges, but ion his opinion “most airlines will want to anyway”, with cargo planes and private jets using buses.
The new terminal will start operations with Cyprus Airways and Easyjet flights on November 10 and the other airlines will follow a week later. It has 67 check-in counters, 14 airline ticket desks, eight check-in kiosks, 16 air-bridges, seven security points, five 15 aircraft baggage conveyor belts and parking spaces for 2,450 cars.
Hermes Airports is a joint venture company with Cypriot and foreign shareholders: Bouygues Batiment International (22%), Egis Projects (20%), Cyprus Trading Corporation Public Limited (11.34%), Hellenic Mining (11.33%), Vancouver Airport Services (11%), Aer Rianta International (11%), Iacovou Brothers Construction (5.665%), Charilaos Apostolides Public Limited (5.665%) and Aeroport Nice Cote d' Azur Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie (2%).
