Several British passenger aircrafts arrived on Friday to Cyprus’ two international airports, in the framework of efforts to repatriate British holiday-makers from the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
In statements on Saturday, Hermes Airports spokesman Adamos Aspris said that eight empty aircrafts, which arrived yesterday from various British airports, are still at Larnaka Airport, while three empty airplanes are at Pafos Airport after a diversion they made since, for some reason, they failed to land at Sharm el-Sheikh, which was their original destination.
Meanwhile, Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides stressed Cyprus` readiness to assist the efforts, if requested to do, and recalled Cyprus` geostrategic role especially in 2006 during the Lebanon crisis.
If anyone asks for our assitance we are ready to cooperate, he said.
Aspris said that the whole picture as regards the efforts to repatriate British holidaymakers and the degree of the involvement of Cypriot airports in this process have not yet been clarified.
According to Aspris, based on information received by the authorities of the Cypriot airports, it seems that there are difficulties for Sharm el Sheikh airport to provide services to a large number of airplanes. .
For this reason, he added, one can not rule out the possibility that some of these airplanes will have to return back to the UK with no passengers. They could be used at a later stage if conditions allow it, he added.
Concluding, he underlined Cyprus` role as a stability factor in the region.