The issue that has arisen from the reduction of available airline seats to Cyprus this year, based on the data available so far, is characterized by Hermes Airports as existent, but bearable, which in no way justifies panic for tourism.
The numbers disclosed in a recent announcement by the Association of Cyprus Tourist Enterprises have certainly caused a sensation, while also causing a great deal of consternation. “According to the airlines’ plans so far to operate flights to and from Cypriot airports, a reduction of 550,000 seats is recorded for 2024 compared to 2023,” the association announced after a recent meeting with a representative of the Cyprus airports’ managing company, concluding, as recorded in a statement, “that significant concerns are being raised.”
Pratt & Whitney engines
The numbers, however, as revealed by Phileleftheros’ briefing from Hermes Airports and its reading of the gap, should not be alarming.
Speaking to our newspaper, the company’s Senior Director of Aviation Development, Marketing & Communications, Maria Kouroupi, reassured the airline of the impact of the airlines’ scheduling so far, in terms of passenger traffic and inbound tourism.
She also clarified that the main reason for the observed decrease is operational problems faced by the airline industry worldwide, which are related to Pratt & Whitney engines, which are used by several of the A320neo aircraft.
According to an international study, the need to inspect this type of aircraft affects at least 40 companies around the world that are forced to ground aircraft internationally for inspections, with an inevitable reduction in available seats.
To the above problem is added the war in the Gaza Strip, but also fluctuations in the scheduling of airlines in the context of redefining and correcting the market, as well as some other changes, as Mrs. Kouroupi explains, stating that today it is a fact that there is a reduction of 550 thousand seats to and from Cyprus.
However, based on current planning, the final impact in terms of passenger traffic will be limited to a reduction of 200 thousand passengers and 100 thousand inbound passengers, i.e. tourists.
“If this number ends up staying like this, it is not a tragedy, but it is part of the stabilization of a market which, after a serious decline, saw a very big recovery last year when new routes were added and now we can say that there is a self-regulation of the market,” she added.
