AS PREVIOUSLY announced, Qatar Airways will commence direct flights to and from Doha and Larnaca airports on Tuesday.
The addition of Larnaca as a destination was announced by the airline last December.
“We are continually striving to provide customers with more options of unique destinations to visit, and the Mediterranean city of Larnaca is a welcomed new addition to the airline’s route map,” a statement from the airline said.
The carrier will be flying four times a week to Larnaca, which is its first route to Cyprus, while the Cyprus government has expressed the hope that the number of flights will increase over time. Flights will be operated by an Airbus A320 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, all departing from Larnaca at 2.10 pm and Doha at 8.10 am.
During a three-day official visit to Qatar by President Nicos Anastasiades in March, the Cyprus government signed an aviation agreement with the Gulf emirate, which provides the right for Qatar Airways to land in Cyprus and continue to other European destinations, excluding Greek destinations in order to protect the interests of Cyprus Airways.
Other features of the agreement relate to unlimited rights of cargo flights by Qatar Airways to Cyprus, and conversely for Cyprus Airways, while yet another perk is the ‘code sharing agreement’, which basically allows Cyprus Airways to fly to previously unreachable destinations in the Far East through Qatar Airways, without the Cyprus carrier itself being actually present with its own aircraft.
The air connection marks the end of a tense commercial period between the two countries, as Qatari investors were poised to participate in a major land deal with the previous government, and last year Qatar Airways was in talks with Cyprus Airways to buy a Heathrow airport timeslot. But both deals fell through, with the blame falling on Cyprus.
Finance Minister Harris Georgiades, Cyprus Airways head Tony Antoniou, and a spokesperson from the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry hailed the introduction of direct flights from Qatar as a positive step in the effort to revitalise the economy and explore new avenues of growth.
“This will boost investment interest from the Arab world,” Georgiades told state radio last week. “But big investments will not come from one day to another. It will take time, but the government is pushing air connection between the Gulf and Cyprus.”
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