The messages are very positive for the coming tourist season and for passenger traffic, said today the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Mr. In his statements after the Cabinet meeting, Mr. Karousos also expressed the readiness of the Ministry of Transport to assist, if requested, with the operation of chartered flights for the repatriation of Cypriot citizens from Ukraine.
In particular, asked if there are indications for the 2022 tourist season, the Minister of Transport stressed that the signals so far are very positive. "The supply of airline seats is reaching 2019 levels and even some airlines have increased the seats available for 2022 compared to what they had in 2019. I should also remind you that there are also plans to support the airline industry, both the provisional plan that we have in place as the Ministry of Transport and the plan that exists with Hermes as well as those of the Ministry of Tourism and we have achieved that the destinations for 2021 were more than in 2019 and we see that in 2022 there will be more destinations and other airlines. We have also launched important agreements both interstate and with airlines and we believe that 2022 starts with the best omens for passenger traffic and tourism and as I have mentioned several airlines will increase the seats they have available compared to what they offered in 2019."
In response to a question about the air connectivity of Cyprus, Mr.Karousos pointed out that according to Eurocontrol statistics, "our country had one of the smallest reductions in direct air connectivity in the world."
In response to a question about the air connectivity of Cyprus, Mr.Karousos pointed out that according to Eurocontrol statistics, "our country had one of the smallest reductions in direct air connectivity in the world. We are quite optimistic that we will do quite well in 2022. Of course it depends on various factors, but the preparation has been done, the fact that we had prepared the Action Plan long ago and informed travel agents will bring results because we are sending a message of stability. Let us not forget that in the Action Plan that we have communicated to airlines and all aviation operators there is a specific number of countries whose maximum classification will be up to the Red Category and will not be classified in the Grey Category (Special Permit). We believe that we are starting very well for 2022 and as I said in 2021 we had more destinations available for travel from Cyprus to abroad (158 compared to 150 in 2019) and expect 2022 to be even better."
Karousos conveyed the Ministry's readiness to act swiftly to achieve the repatriation of our compatriots, in the same way that was done during the period of the first lockdown, when the Ministry had assumed the role of coordinating and organizing the repatriations in cooperation with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism.(MCI)
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