Cyprus Transport Minister Vassiliki Anastassiadou told tourism sector stakeholders the government can’t bring airfares down, but it can offer incentives for airlines to fly to the island and create more competition.
She said effort were being made to improve the island’s air connectivity with Europe and the rest of the world.
Deputy Tourism Minister Savvas Perdios along with representatives from Hermes Airports, the Employers and Industrialists’ Federation (OEB), the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents and the Cyprus Hotel Association (CHA) all took part in a meeting at the ministry on Monday.
Anastassiadou told stakeholders that the state cannot directly intervene to reduce prices but can contribute in that directions by making efforts to increase the availability of airline seat to and from Cyprus.
Stakeholders evaluated actions taken after their last meeting on the issue in April.
“All operators are on the same wavelength regarding measures needed to be taken. Results of measures taken so far and those to be implemented in the near future, will be visible in the long run,” Anastassiadou said.
She said measures are focused on attracting new airlines, increasing scheduled flights and the re-examination of incentives to carriers as a number have expressed an interest to register in Cyprus.
Perdios, said he will continue to work towards opening new destinations and strengthening existing routes.
He revealed there are encouraging indications from markets such as Germany and Austria.
“This is an important development which may push certain airlines to increase existing routes and add new ones, helping to reduce air fares.”
Tourism industry stakeholders have at times expressed unease over air fare prices which during the summer have reached eyewatering levels.
Airfares to and from European destinations, especially Greece have skyrocketed during the summer period.
Last week, Cyprus business leaders said the exorbitant cost of airfares to closest EU destination Greece are unacceptable, claiming there must be manipulation of the market.
Higher fares are linked to the void left by last year’s demise of low-cost Cypriot airline Cobalt, which was not filled by other carriers.
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