State airspace company by end-2016

Transport Minister Marios Demetriades said that a state-owned airspace services company, to replace the Civil Aviation Authority, should be ready by the end of the year.

Thanking the Law Services for promptly preparing the relevant legislation, the Minister said the aim is to bring the bill before the House by the end of the month and he hoped that it will come into effect this year.

Asked if the company will be financed by the state’s budget, the Minister of Transport said at present the services that monitor the national airspace of Cyprus are financed by those using the national airspace, either for local flights or overflight traffic.

Any additional cost related to the new company will be burdened on the user airlines, he added.

The reform follows a recent announcement that three companies had filed an application to obtain an Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

Transport Ministry Permanent Secretary Alecos Michaelides said last month that the three airlines come as a Cypriot owned company, Tus Airlines, received the necessary licence and is to begin its schedule in mid-February.

Cyprus-based Cobalt Airlines is also expected to be operational soon with its first commercial flight scheduled for April.

“The DCA is examining three applications submitted by three Cypriot companies to obtain an AOC,” Michaelides had said, without revealing the companies.

He explained that after receiving the AOC, these firms will apply to the Ministry’s Aviation Licensing Authority, chaired by Michelides to obtain a Commercial Aviation Licence. Michelides said the Ministry is in consultation with foreign aviation companies that wish to begin scheduled flights to and from Cyprus.