Wednesday, 14th October 2009 Latest News: New Cyprus airport will help economy ...more

The new Larnaka International Airport will give the island’s economy a new impetus, amidst the economic crisis and will significantly help the economic and tourist development in general, Androulla Christodoulou, head of Services of Civil Aviation at Larnaka International Airport told Cna.

In an interview ahead of the opening of the new airport, the opening ceremony of which is scheduled for November 7 and the first flights will take place on November 10, Christodoulou said that after the administration of the airports was undertaken by a private company, the Civil Aviation Department, which is the regulatory and supervisory authority, has a responsibility to monitor and control all authorities which are active within the airport.

Hermes Airports Ltd assumed management and control of Larnaka International Airport and Pafos International Airport on 12 May 2006, under a 25 year BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) concession agreement with the Republic of Cyprus.

The Concession Agreement includes a 622m plan to develop both airports through construction of a new passenger terminal building at each site and other associated infrastructure, including aprons and runway extensions. The work commenced immediately, under a rapid Design and Build Contract. The new passenger terminal at Pafos opened in November 2008, and at Larnaka, it is scheduled to open on 7 November 2009.