This year has so far been a record-breaking ones in terms of the number of travellers through the two airports. Over 10 million passengers are anticipated to have passed through the airports by the end of the year.

Discussions have already taken place between the government and the private company operating the airport – Hermes Airports.

Hundreds of flights are being carried out every day and, according to Hermes Airports data, between January and July 2017, some 5.5 million travellers passed through the airports. In August alone a further 1.4 million travelled through the two airports.

If this number could be duplicated for all 12 months of the year, the exciting prospects for Cyprus tourism are clear and the state and Hermes are planning to make the most of the current momentum. This would include upgrading the airports.

Communications Minister Marios Demetriades, for example, in a recent interview said discussions are underway for the extension of the airports’ infrastructure and services.

Demetriades told the press, “When airport traffic reaches a certain level, there is a contractual obligation for the management to make its own suggestions on the extension of the existing infrastructure so that it better responds to new needs”.

“Because we are very close to reaching that point, dialogue has already begun with the managing company (Hermes) and we are awaiting its suggestions,” he added.

The main challenge for Hermes is anticipated to be speeding up the services provided to passengers to make their passing through the airports as speedy as possible. Hermes is anticipated to be looking at increasing the number of ePassport gates (automated self-service barriers) as well as installing an express boarding facility at Paphos airport.

Source: InCyprus