Greek carrier Aegean Airlines, which was among the potential bidders for Cyprus Airways, is significantly stepping up flights from Larnaca and Paphos hub following the Cypriot carrier’s collapse.
This summer, Aegean will base four Airbus A320s at its Larnaca hub, which it opened four years ago, and step up its Cypriot network to 14 destinations. “I believe that today is the first day of our company’s new course of gradual, but long-lasting growth in Cyprus,” Aegean vice-chairman Eftichios Vasilakis said.
Specifically, Aegean will add services from Cyprus to London Heathrow, Paris, Munich, Rome and Milan. These will be joined by services to Israel, Kiev and Beirut, once Aegean secures traffic rights.
It will also open a new direct Athens-Paphos service, along with direct flights to Heraklion, Myconos, Rhodes and Santorini, while stepping up frequencies between Cyprus and the Greek cities of Athens and Thessaloniki. “The company aims to support this venture with additional human resources from Cyprus at the earliest opportunity,” Aegean said in a statement.
In a further move, Aegean is offering Cyprus Airways’ top level “Elite” frequent flyer program (FFP) members Gold membership of its own FFP. It will also grant existing and new members of its Miles + Bonus FFP 50% more miles on flights to and from Cyprus for the whole of 2015.
Ryanair and Aegean both emerged as likely contenders to buy Cyprus Airways late last year. Aside from offering rescue fares, Ryanair is yet to make a move, but a Ryanair spokesman said, “We are still proceeding with our application for a Cypriot air operator’s certificate (AOC).”
Aegean flies to 134 destinations to 43 countries using its fleet of 56 Airbus A320s, following its acquisition of rival Greek carrier Olympic Air.
Air transport World