How will airport traffic fare this year?

Passenger traffic at Cypriot airports is expected to return to 2019 levels this year. According to current data, passenger traffic will reach at least 96% of what it was in 2019 and may even exceed it. It should be noted that in 2022, passenger traffic (arrivals and departures) totaled 9.2 million, representing approximately 82% of passenger traffic in 2019. Increased passenger traffic implies an increase in the number of destinations available. Cyprus' connectivity has now been significantly improved, according to airport operator Hermes Airports, with direct connections to 38 countries, 140 destinations, and 50 airlines. 

Monthly flights

"K" has data on hand that allows them to provide insight into the dynamics of the flight schedule for 2023. It can be estimated that Larnaca airport will handle an average of 2703 flights per month (arrivals and departures) during the winter months and 5072 flights per month during the summer months. Similarly, for Paphos airport, the average number of flights per month is expected to be 1033 during the winter months and 2156 during the summer months.  The total number of scheduled flights to and from the two Cypriot airports for the entire year 2023 is estimated to be around 69 thousand, with 49 thousand flights to Larnaca and 20 thousand flights to Paphos. Apart from the United Kingdom, the following countries stood out in the first months of 2023 and continue to show an upward trend. Mobility from Poland, France, and Italy was notable, as was mobility from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. 

To and from Larnaca

In 2023, approximately 49 thousand flights will be operated to and from Larnaca Airport. Athens, Tel Aviv, London - Heathrow and Gatwick - and Thessaloniki are the top five cities in terms of flight frequency. Beirut, Vienna, Yerevan, and Belgrade have also seen an increase in frequency. Weekly frequencies are around 313 in the winter and 580 in the summer. (April to October). The busiest months are obviously July and June, with 635 flights per week, while the slowest month in comparison is February, which was still better than in 2019 in terms of passenger traffic. Larnaca Airport has daily flights to 29 destinations, with some reductions in numbers during the winter season, and an annual schedule with 96 destinations.

Flights to Paphos

Following the success of the previous year, the flight schedule at Paphos Airport remains dynamic for 2023. According to data available to "K," the total number of flights (arrivals and departures) in 2023 is estimated to be around 20,000 per year. Flights are estimated to be 1,033 per month during the winter months, and 2156 per month during the summer months. July and August are the busiest months, with 2314 flights each. (2319 flights). It is expected that there will be 247 flights per week during the summer months, with the peak months being July and August, with 261 and 262 flights, respectively.  

Flights are expected to average 119 during the winter season, with the highest numbers in March (147) and November. (128). Paphos Airport connects to 60 airports in total, including daily flights to Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Manchester, Tel Aviv, Thessaloniki, and - from April to October - Bristol and Birmingham. In April and May, there are also daily flights to Vienna. The Paphos-Athens route is also still on the airport's flight schedule.

[This article was translated from its Greek original and was first published in Kathimerini's printed Sunday edition]