Hermes Airports COO Miltos Miltiadous: The airports' €170m expansion is the biggest challenge since their construction

Miltos Miltiadous, Chief Operating Officer of Hermes Airports has highlighted the crucial role of Operations Department at Hermes Airports, which, by coordinating the involved departments, is at the heart of the daily functioning of the airports.

He was speaking in a video interview for the 13th edition of Hermes Airports’ Flight Mode online newsletter.

According to Miltiadous, in order for flights to operate smoothly, safely, and with the highest possible accuracy in their scheduling, his Department effectively fulfills its mission through efficient coordination.

With the airports in Larnaca and Paphos welcoming over 12 million passengers annually and handling nearly 80,000 flights, a top priority for the Department remains providing the best possible experience for passengers.

At the same time, referring to the upcoming expansions of the country’s airports—a project valued at €170 million—Miltiadous emphasides the importance of the initiative, which is leading airports into a new phase of development.

A video of Miltiadous’ interview, in Greek, can be viewed below, followed by a transcript translated into English.

Miltos Miltiadous, Chief Operating Officer of Hermes Airports:

"The airport is a living organism that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. As the Operations Department, we are responsible for the organisation, management and supervision of the daily operations of the airports in Larnaca and Paphos, which welcome more than 12 million passengers each year and are required to handle almost 80,000 flights.

We are also called upon to ensure the smooth operation of key services for the operation of the airport, such as Technical Services, the IT section, and the Health, Safety and Environment Department, the demands of which have been constantly increasing in recent years in Cyprus and internationally.

Essentially, the Operations Department is at the heart of the daily operations of airports, coordinating the various departments so that flights run smoothly, safely and with the greatest possible precision in their planning. It is a job that requires very good knowledge of airport operations, strategy and immediacy in decision-making.

At the same time, providing the best possible experience to passengers is high in our priorities. In this context, we will soon be taking on the next biggest challenge after the construction of the airports in Larnaca and Paphos, which is their expansion projects. This is a strategic investment of €170 million that will increase the total capacity of Cyprus' airports by 43%.

The project's working and monitoring teams have already been formed, staffed by experienced Hermes Airports executives and specialised experts from abroad. Work will begin simultaneously at both airports in March and we are preparing for the challenges that may arise, in order to maintain operational continuity at the airports and uninterrupted service to travelers.

At Larnaka Airport, the terminal expansion will cover an additional 20,000 sq m, including new boarding gates via a wing connected to the main building. At the same time, additional baggage claim belts will be created and aircraft parking spaces will be increased. The completion of the project, within 30 months, will allow the airport to serve up to 12.5 million passengers per year.

At Pafos Airport, capacity will increase by 30%, significantly improving the passenger experience and the efficiency of checks and procedures. At the same time, the southern parallel taxiway will be expanded, enhancing the airport's operational flexibility. Upon completion of the projects in 27 months, annual capacity will reach 5 million passengers.

Beyond the expansion of airports, we are continuing to implement important projects, such as the expansion of our photovoltaic parks, further reducing our environmental footprint, as well as the upgrade of our network infrastructure.

As the managing company of the airports in Larnaca and Paphos, we remain committed to the continuous improvement of our infrastructure and services."

The original article in Flight Mode can be viewed here.