Hermes Airports recently announced a remarkable rebound in passenger traffic at the island's airports, with the Airports Council International Europe (ACI) confirming that Cyprus has achieved full recovery of its total air connectivity.

In a press release issued by Hermes Airports, it was revealed that the first half of 2023 concluded on a positive note, showing a significant 3% increase in passenger traffic compared to the corresponding period in 2019, totaling 4,808,431 passengers. During the period of January to June 2023, Larnaka airport served a total of 3,252,612 passengers, while Pafos airport welcomed 1,555,819 passengers.

According to the ACI Europe, Cyprus airports have outperformed other European countries by securing the top spot in terms of total air connectivity recovery (including both direct and indirect connectivity) compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Despite the loss of the Russian and Ukrainian markets, which previously accounted for over 20% of total passenger traffic, the development of existing markets has compensated for this decline, with some markets experiencing growth rates exceeding 50% compared to 2019. Moreover, the addition of new markets, notably France and Italy, has had a significant impact on Cyprus' air connectivity recovery.

The leading markets during the first half of 2023 were the United Kingdom, Greece, Israel, Poland, and Germany. Austria, Romania, Hungary, Armenia, and France completed the top ten markets.

Aligned with its route development and airline support strategy, Hermes Airports has collaborated with 55 airlines operating flights to and from Larnaka and Pafos airports, providing a wide range of options with 155 routes to 39 countries. New routes have already been launched for the summer season, and based on the available data, passenger traffic is expected to approach the levels observed in 2019.

Maria Kouroupi, Senior Manager of Aviation Development and Communication at Hermes Airports, emphasized the importance of maintaining strong air connectivity for the country's tourism industry. She stated, "Undoubtedly, the country's connectivity remains at the core of our strategy as it is the driving force of tourism." Kouroupi also highlighted the enhanced summer schedule of both Larnaka and Pafos airports, which offers passengers a wider range of destinations. Encouraged by the positive momentum and the increasing influx of tourists, she concluded, "We should seize this opportunity to strengthen our presence in new markets and aim for year-round tourism, building on the success of this winter season that has surpassed all expectations."

It is noteworthy that according to recent data, tourism revenue in Cyprus experienced a significant 30% increase in the first four months of the year, reaching €418 million. April alone saw a surge of 17.6% in tourism revenue compared to the previous year, amounting to €217.6 million. Israeli tourists had the highest daily expenditure at €120.23, followed by British tourists at €79.51. Polish tourists, the third-largest market, spent €77.67 per day, showing an 8.7% increase compared to the previous year.