The aviation sector in Cyprus remains broadly stable despite ongoing international pressures, according to the Association of Cyprus Travel and Tourism Agents (ACTA). Spokesperson Antonis Orthodoxou called for calm, warning against panic over developments affecting the industry.
He noted that current global conditions do not point to fuel shortages that could lead to widespread flight cancellations, a view also shared by European transport ministers.
Limited impact on flights and routes
According to ACTA, the aviation sector in Cyprus has seen some cancellations, mainly linked to higher fuel costs and the restructuring of low-efficiency short-haul routes. However, long-haul and international routes continue to operate without significant disruption.
Orthodoxou added that some cancellations also stem from broader operational reasons rather than systemic issues in the aviation market.
Airfares and fuel surcharges
On ticket prices, he explained that some airlines have introduced fuel surcharges, but this is not a universal practice. Several carriers have kept fares unchanged compared with previous months, helping stabilise the Cyprus aviation sector in the short term.
Orthodoxou highlighted that organised travel packages offered by Cypriot tourism agents remain unaffected for now. He said agents secured seat allocations early, back in October, taking on commercial risk to ensure summer availability.
As a result, package prices have not changed, with some operators absorbing part of the increased costs to support consumers.
Post-pandemic pressures persist
The ACTA spokesperson acknowledged that the aviation sector continues to face higher costs compared with pre-pandemic levels. However, he stressed that price increases are not severe enough to deter travel demand at this stage.
He added that there is no indication of a major market disruption despite ongoing global economic pressures.
Connectivity challenges for Cyprus
Orthodoxou also pointed to a structural connectivity issue for Cyprus, noting that around 700,000 airline seats have been lost due to geopolitical developments. When airlines redeploy aircraft to other routes, he said, it is extremely difficult to restore capacity to Cyprus.
Despite this, he expressed cautious optimism, stating that conditions have improved compared with the previous week. He estimated that booking declines, currently at around 30% for the year, could ease further.
He concluded that extending the tourism season beyond October, potentially into November or December, could play a key role in supporting the aviation sector and safeguarding the industry’s annual performance.
Also read: Sweden warns of possible jet fuel shortage
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