INTEREST IN FLIGHTS FROM RUSSIA, ISRAEL IN SEPTEMBER

 Filenews 23 August 2020 - by Theano Thiopoulou

New data on the development of this year's difficult tourist season but with cautious optimism is created by the decision of airlines from Russia, Israel and Ukraine to express an intention to resume flights in September to Cyprus.

After Britain, the traditional tourist market of Cyprus, which has been re-connected by air to the island, takes turns another large market, the Russian one, which also bets a lot on domestic tourism, if epidemiological conditions permit. Israel and Ukraine are added to the list of companies that spread their wings in about ten days for Cyprus if epidemiological developments allow. Hoteliers had initially placed their hopes on English tourists who are in the health category B. Russia and Israel are two countries where Cyprus has a large tourist flow and tourists from these two regions have the highest per capita costs. Although both countries are in category C, however, Cyprus is expected to join the airlines' flight schedule and there is some hope that if the epidemiological situation progresses smoothly they will switch to category B or A.

Data from Hermes Airport shows that efforts are being made for more connections, if and when health protocols permit.

The new routes that are already in force and did not exist last year are: Dortmund, Karlsruhe, Memmingen (Germany), Gdansk, Rocklow (Poland), Paris (France), Salzburg (Austria), Turku (Finland), Eindhoven (Netherlands). However, the important thing is that since September the companies' plans are flights with Russia, Ukraine and Israel. According to Hermes data, if all goes smoothly, the plans are from 1 and 2 September for flights with Ural Airlines to Krasnodar – Larnaca, Mineralnye Vodi ( Mineralnye Vody) – Larnaca, to Moscow – Larnaca, Yekaterinburg – Larnaca. Nord Wind also has a route from September Moscow to Larnaca.

Flights connecting Larnaca to Tel Aviv are scheduled for September by Aegean, Arkia Israeli Airlines, El Al Israel, Israir Airlines. Flights between Kiev and Larnaca are planned by Skyup and by Lviv (Lviv) by Wizz Air.

Maria Kouroupi, senior director of Aviation Development and Communication at Hermes Airports, on the occasion of the developments, told "F" that "in this unprecedented environment and rapidly changing climate that we are experiencing due to the crown virus pandemic, we have made as Cyprus certain gains in terms of travel and tourism, which we should not overlook. It is important to focus on how to use them so that there is a better prospect for our tourism in the years to come, despite the challenges and adversity. In these two months since the reopening of airports, we have managed to penetrate important new destinations, in addition to traditional ones, with new routes to Germany, Poland, Austria, Finland, the Netherlands and France (Paris). It is very important from now on, with targeted movements and advertising appropriately tailored to the relevant audiences, to strengthen this dynamic so that when the crown crisis passes, we are in a better situation, with more prospering prospects than before."

It is worth mentioning that citizens with residency status in Cyprus from category C may choose to undergo a diagnostic test for COVID-19 disease upon arrival in Cyprus or to have a negative result with them no later than 72 hours before departure. It is stressed that these individuals should remain strictly in self-contained status for 14 days.