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Hermes Airports: September traffic sets all-record with 1.4 million passengers

September ended on a positive note in terms of passenger traffic at Larnaka and Pafos Airports. Last month, 1.4 million passengers travelled to and from Larnaka and Pafos airports, further contributing to the upward trend observed this year. Compared to September 2023, passenger traffic increased by 7%, and this September’s performance set an all-time record for the month.

For September, the top markets for Larnaka Airport were the United Kingdom, Greece, Israel, Poland, and Germany, while for Pafos Airport, the top markets were the United Kingdom, Greece, Poland, Israel, and France.

The trend in passenger traffic has shown an upward trajectory over the past nine months. From January to September, a total of 9.5 million passengers travelled through both airports, representing a 5% increase compared to the same period last year.

In October, the flight schedule continues to hover at around 1,000 flights per week, and the data available for the winter season is very encouraging. Specifically, from November to March, an additional 300,000 seats have been added compared to the same period last year, which had already seen an increase.

The Director of Aviation Development, Marketing and Communication of Hermes Airports, Maria Kouroupi stated, “It is crucial to maintain the positive prospects for steady growth and to invest in the development of year-round connectivity, which will bring multiple benefits to our country.”

Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.

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