TRAVEL: Ryanair takes over Larnaca-Brussels route from January 2016

Ryanair has launched a new route from Larnaca to Brussels Zaventem starting in January, with two weekly flights to the Belgian capital every Monday and Friday, taking over the vacuum left behind by now-defunct Cyprus Airways.

This was one of a dozen “vital routes” offered by the Ministry of Transport to alternative airlines, filling in the gaps ever since the former national carrier was grounded earlier this year after failing to secure a European Commission go-ahead for state aid.
Ryanair and Greek carrier Aegean were the only serious bidders to take over Cyprus Airways, but withdrew their bids when the grand total of liabilities was estimated to have reached €100 mln. Both have since absorbed some of the national carrier’s other routes, with Ryanair bosses complaining that lucrative destinations, such as to Beirut, were handed to Aegean on a silver platter.
The low-cost airline, that already operates flights from Paphos to Charleroi, the alternative Brussels airport, said that the new Larnaca-Brussels route, starting on January 18, 2016, “will contribute to the delivery of over 625,000 customers p.a. in Cyprus.”
“Ryanair is pleased to launch a new twice weekly Larnaca route to Brussels, which begins in January, saving Cyprus taxpayers €3 mln, and will contribute to the delivery of over 625,000 customers in Cyprus. We’re also pleased to unveil our Paphos summer 2016 schedule, which includes nine routes with our unbeatable formula of low fares and our “Always Getting Better” customer experience programme,” said Chief Commercial Officer David O’Brien.
The Paphos summer 2016 schedule includes one weekly flight to Brussels Charleroi, nine weeklies to London and twice weekly to Rome, for a total of 44 weekly flights to and from Cyprus, including daily services to Athens and twice daily to Thessaloniki.
The airline also announced a €19.99 seat sale to mark the launch of the new Larnaca-Brussels route. These are available for booking on www.ryanair.com  until midnight Thursday (17 Sep), for travel in January 2016.