Passenger traffic records “best performance ever” in 2024, Ministry says

In 2024, passenger traffic recorded the “best performance ever” according to Cyprus’ Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, regarding traffic at Larnaca and Paphos airports.

The main markets in 2024 were the United Kingdom, Greece, Israel, Poland and Germany through which approximately 7.8 million passengers have been transported, representing 64% of total passenger traffic, while the most important destinations were London and Athens (approximately 1.4 million passengers each), Tel Aviv (approximately 1 million passengers) and Thessaloniki, Manchester and Vienna, it says.

In a press release, the Ministry notes that passenger traffic for January-December 2024 “presented the best performance ever”, with a 5.6% increase in passenger traffic compared to 2023, and a 9.1% increase compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels.

These results, it notes, “stress the strong recovery of the sector and Cyprus’ popularity as a tourism and business destination.”

Despite ongoing economic and geopolitical challenges, it adds, “Cyprus is showing resilience in tourism, with travel trends extending beyond the traditional summer season, as demand for the months of January to March and September to December increased by over 7% compared to last year.”

It notes that “the highest passenger numbers” were observed during the May-October period, with 8.2 million passengers (67% of total traffic), “while August was the busiest month”. The highest daily passenger traffic - 21,189 passengers – “was welcomed by Larnaca Airport on August 26, 2024”, it said, while March was the month that saw the highest increase (12%).

“In December, Larnaca and Paphos airports welcomed 654,760 passengers, a 10.5% increase compared to 2023”, it says adding that “the most quiet day of the year” was Christmas at Paphos airport that saw a mere 341 passengers.  

During December, it is also said, passenger traffic at Larnaca airport increased by 15.06 %, while at Paphos airport it decreased by 0.74% compared to 2023.

In addition, with 5,732 flights, aircraft traffic in December recorded a 4.12% increase compared to 2023, it said.

The Ministry notes that the incentives schemes for airlines, implemented since 2012 with the cooperation and funding of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works and Hermes Airports, “have contributed decisively to the penetration of new markets and the recovery of passenger traffic”. With targeted investments of approximately €240 million, it adds, these schemes address “the intense competition” in the civil aviation sector and the instability and volatility of the geopolitical environment, while they have strengthened connectivity and tourist flow to Cyprus.

It also says that the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, assures that he will continue to promote initiatives and actions to strengthen the resilience of the sector and improve Cyprus' connectivity.

(Source: CNA)