Paphos airport to close at nights?

RUMOURS are rife over the possible closure of Paphos’ new airport during the winter months and at night.

Speculation was heightened after comments made by chairman of Hermes Airports Nicolas Shacolas and Communications Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis last Friday hinted at major changes lined up for the airport.

But on Monday Kozakou-Marcoullis clarified her position, saying she had not specified if or when any such move would be made.

Shacolas said the subject of changes at Paphos airport, including altering operating hours, would be examined in the autumn and if any were to be made, they would only be to make the operation more economically sound.

Hermes airport spokesman Adam Aspris told the Cyprus Mail, “No such decision has been taken [over] changes at Paphos airport, but all of the companies are looking to increase profit and should be open to new suggestions.”

Those involved in Paphos’ tourist sector reacted strongly to the possibility, pointing out that budget flights and night flights, which both offer cheaper travel options, would be badly affected, and this in turn would have a catastrophic effect on visitor numbers and the local economy.

Another source close to airport officials said, “There is no clear guideline as to what sort of a decision needs to be taken.”

The source, who preferred to remain unnamed, added, “Stopping night flights wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing if airlines were informed and could readjust their schedule accordingly.

“They could fly during the day and maybe the airport could offer some reduced fees to the airlines, so that they wouldn’t be losing anything. In fact, this may even attract some of the airlines.”

She added all involved in the airport’s operation need to be in a position to adjust their strategy during these tough times.

“The key is to be flexible,” she said. “This is not just a simple decision to close the airport at night, no one want to see that happen.”

Hermes invested €130 million for constructing the modern terminal.

“We need to reduce cost and increase the benefits we offer to airliners. We cannot continue to operate on outdated data,” she said.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.