AEGEAN: Committed to Cyprus

Airline says the island needs to do more to liberalise air services with non-EU countries

Greece’s Aegean has been part of the revolution of Cyprus air travel over the past decade which has transformed the

Now you are established in Cyprus what is your financial outlook – is the Larnacahub making a profit?

Aegean has been active in Cyprus since May 2004, from the very first moment that this was possible when Cyprus joined the European Union and we were permitted to operate. This currently makes us the senior airline based or established in Cyprus. Since then 5.25 million passengers have flown on our flights to and from Cyprus.

So, our presence in Cyprus is not a recent development and shows the level of importance and commitment to the island. Of course, none of all this would have happened if the activity in Cyprus was not financially viable and of sustained profitability.

What is your strategy for the short-tomedium term regarding expansion of destinations, additional aircraft, customer service and company structure?

In the past year we have standardised most of our flights in Larnaca to A321 equipment which is the largest aircraft type in our fleet. This is a sign of maturity of our presence and a confirmation of the market dynamism. We intend to continue operating with A321s and to evaluate any new opportunities we can identify. Larnaca is a year-round operating base of Aegean and we experience into one of choice, affordability and greater connectivity. Not so long-ago Cyprus had no homegrown airlines to speak of, following the demise of the national carrier in 2015 – fast forward three years on and there are now six airlines using the island as a base.

Aegean said it has been committed to Cyprus since very employ Cypriot flight crews stationed in Larnaca.

As per the fleet, over the next few years, the aircraft based in Larnaca will be replaced by our new A320NEO family jets we have on order. These aircraft will offer improved efficiency, a new product and a new travel experience.

Do you believe the airline is offering value-for-money and what sets you apart from your competitors?

The Cypriot consumer has truly embraced Aegean in Cyprus and the volume of our activity is proof of this. Besides offering Business and Economy Class on all services, we provide the highest frequency of services early on and the airline will continue to expand and upgrade its operations to serve the tens of thousands of passengers that travel to and from Cyprus each year.

The Financial Mirror spoke to Aegean Airlines Network Planning and Alliances Director Tassos Raftopoulos about future plans and what needs to be done. between Athens and Larnaca with six daily flights. This frequency offers a very good choice of options to the Cypriot traveller and the highest possible convenience. From Athens onwards, Cyprus is connected to 108 destinations of the Aegean/Olympic network. We believe that no other airline can provide such network coverage with very efficient connections. Through our frequent flyer programme, Miles & Bonus, Cypriot travellers have all the benefits on the Aegean Network and through our participation in Star Alliance throughout the world.

How do you see the aviation business unfolding in the future and what does Cyprus need to do, if anything, to ensure it

is advantageously positioned?

The most important thing that Cyprus needs to address is the seasonality of the tourist season, with efforts to extend it. This is a gradual and structural process but is the key to sustained air services throughout the year. Cyprus also needs to ensure it remains competitive as a destination and this does not only refer to air travel, the whole value chain needs to be considered.

Besides these structural topics and due to the location of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean basin, more efforts need to be made in liberalising the Bilateral Air Services Agreements with non-EU countries and application of the EU nationality clause could open new opportunities for Cyprus based airlines.

Is there anything that needs to be done to make Cyprus more competitive – such as lower airport fees etc?

Winter incentives are important, both for new destinations, but also for growth in arrivals.

Where do you feel is the next big new destination for Cypriot travellers?

There are a number of new destinations that Cypriots choose to travel to. Most of these are relatively small and would not support non-stop services from Cyprus yet, but we see traffic flows via Athens to regional cities in France, Italy, Spain and to destinations in Croatia.

Is there room for more Cyprus-owned or Cyprus-based airlines?

One needs to observe the Pan-European trend of airline consolidation and consider where Cyprus fits in this environment. Are airlines with a single digit fleet sustainable or competitive? Can a niche strategy work?