Hermes Airports, the operator of Larnaca and Paphos airports, has released preliminary estimates for passenger traffic and airline market share for 2024.
Destinations:
Unsurprisingly, the United Kingdom retains the top spot for inbound and outbound travel, followed by Greece, a popular choice for Cypriot students and vacationers. Also, arrivals from Israel have rebounded, according to the Statistical Service.
Here’s the projected top 10 for passenger traffic (including both arrivals and departures):
- United Kingdom (estimated 3.5 million)
- Greece (estimated 2 million)
- Israel (slightly under 1 million)
- Poland (slightly under 1 million)
- Germany
- Austria
- Romania
- France
- Hungary
- Italy
Airline Market Share:
Low-cost carriers dominate, with Ryanair and Wizz Air (both with bases in Cyprus) projected to carry the most passengers. Aegean Airlines follows closely.
The top 5 airlines (based on estimated market share) are:
- Ryanair
- Wizz Air
- Aegean Airlines
- EasyJet
- TUI Group
The remaining airlines on the top 10 list include Jet2.com, British Airways, Cyprus Airways, Sky Express, and Lufthansa. Wizz Air leads the pack with an estimated 2 million passengers, followed closely by Ryanair.
These forecasts suggest a record-breaking year for passenger traffic, exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
This positive outlook is attributed to collaborative efforts by Hermes Airports, the Ministry of Transport, and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism in addressing industry challenges.
The increase in available flights compared to winter (56 airlines operating this year vs. 30) further supports this optimism.
