A concert by international renowned DJ Armin van Buuren due to take place Thursday at the old Larnaca airport has been forced to change venue following security issues raised by the police.
“The security issues were raised by the police, not Hermes,” Adamos Aspris, spokesman for Hermes Airports, who rented the airport to the gig organisers Moonlightshow Productions, told the Cyprus Mail.
The press office of Hermes said the airport operator had no direct involvement with the organisers other than renting them the space and that it was their responsibility to get the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities for use of the space.
“It is with great regret we announce that due to the security measures taken by the relevant authorities at the airports of the Republic of Cyprus as well as in areas around them, Armin van Buuren’s concert which is scheduled for the 21st of July 2016, at 20:00 will not take place at the Old Larnaca’s Airport grounds but at Ayia Napa’s Community Football Stadium instead; on the same date and time,” an announcement from the organisers said.
Speaking to the Cyprus Mail, Helen Katsamba, the managing director of the organising company, described Hermes as “very unprofessional” saying it was the first and last time she would have any dealings with them.
“When we decided to rent the airport we had a number of meetings with Hermes to discuss safety and security issues over the last two and half months. Our man responsible for these concerns is a very professional Englishman and Hermes expressed their satisfaction with these arrangements. I can’t believe Hermes did not contact the police.”
Katsamba said she had yet to receive anything official from Hermes concerning the concert and said the first she had heard of the police concerns was from a friend working at the airport who had got wind of it.
At time of going to press, Armin van Buuren’s official website still had Old Larnaca Airport as the venue for Thursday’s concert.
Police spokesman Andreas Angelides told the Cyprus Mail the police had first found out about the concert through advertisements and the internet and expressed their concerns during a meeting with the Civil Aviation Authority.
“A meeting was held with Civil Aviation where police expressed security concerns with the concert being held at the airport. The final decision to not allow the concert to go ahead was made by them”
Having in mind the difficulties that might arise due to the change of venue, the production team decided to arrange for free return transfers to Ayia Napa’s Community Football Stadium from Nicosia, Larnaca, Paphos and Limassol. Participants wishing to use the service are asked to contact Marios Kapnos on 99442155 or the organisers on 7777 2939 or 7777 7040.
