Cyprus airports hit by work stoppage

LARNACA and Paphos airports were forced to a standstill yesterday evening by a two hour work stoppage by airport employees protesting government privatisation plans.

A total of 24 flights, many of them carrying holidaymakers, were cancelled.

Airport workers ignored last minute appeals from the government to drop their industrial action which started at 6pm.

The walkout by civil aviation staff was sparked by a government decision to tender for a partner to develop the airports at Larnaca and Paphos.

Fourteen companies have been short-listed. The winner, expected to be announced later this year, will get the rights to run the two airports for a period of between 15 and 20 years.

Speaking on behalf of the protestors, Savvakis Alexandrou, said yesterday that they “opposed the government’s plans which will lead to the sell off of a service which is so prosperous and cause the state losses of £600 million.”

Air traffic controllers did not participate in the strike.

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