Airport charges ‘cheaper than Athens and Malta’

TRANSPORT Minister Harris Thrassou yesterday dismissed claims by airlines and travel agents that charges at the island’s two airports would be higher than those of competitors.

Thrassou was speaking during a visit to the site of the new Larnaca Airport by Parliament’s Communications and Works Committee.
Thrassou’s comments come after a series of exchanges on the issue between airport operator Hermes and the International Air Carriers Association (IACA).

The organisation charged that a series of new passenger levies in April, July and November this year would make Larnaca one of the most expensive airports in the region.

The government would be raking in millions of euros under its 33 per cent deal with Hermes, IACA said.

“The reality is that the revenue is less than half of what they claim,” said Thrassou. He said income may reach 100 million euros and not the 220 million claimed.

“The airports in Cyprus will not be more expensive than those in other European countries,” he added. “In fact we will be much cheaper than Eleftherios Venizelos [in Athens] and around 50 per cent cheaper than Malta, which is also a tourist destination.”

Thrassou said charges at the new Larnaca and Paphos airports should not be compared to other airports around the world that were built 20 or 25 years ago and which had already been paid for.

Commenting on the progress in construction at Larnaca, Thrassou said it appeared the airports would be delivered as planned. Paphos is due for completion in 2008 and Larnaca in November 2009. Larnaca will have capacity for some 755 million passengers a year, or 3,300 per hour.

Hermes has also spent millions on upgrading the existing airports and is to unveil new shops and eateries, new retail shops, new signs and flight information monitors on June 1.

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