Airport shuttles damaged in apparent sabotage

FOUR Larnaca airport shuttle buses have been tampered with by alleged competitors, reports said yesterday.

The buses, two of which belong to EAL (Limassol Urban Bus Company) and two to Nicosia’s Kapnos, had their serpentine belts cut in the past few days.

The buses carry out routes to and from Larnaca airport from Limassol and Nicosia respectively.

The vehicles were targeted at night while they were parked at the airport and not scheduled to carry out routes.

According to reports, the incidents were reported to police, who at the bus companies’ request are investigating quietly so as not to cause any upset or concern to passengers.

It is believed the bus companies suspect would-be competitors are behind the tampering, so as to block them from continuing what has proved a highly successful and popular airport transport service. The buses first started running in July.

The bus companies do not believe the incidents are a coincidence or based on personal differences with the bus drivers. Instead, they believe their competitors are tying to send them and the airport a message.

No one was yesterday available for comment from either bus company.