Breaking news

Cyprus Airports Set Record Passenger Traffic In 2024

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 10, 2025

Passenger traffic at Cyprus’ Larnaca and Paphos airports reached an all-time high in 2024, according to the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Works. The record-breaking year marked a milestone in the island’s aviation history, highlighting Cyprus as a robust hub for tourism and business travel.

Key markets driving this achievement included the United Kingdom, Greece, Israel, Poland, and Germany, collectively accounting for 64% of the 7.8 million passengers who travelled through the airports. Among the top destinations were London and Athens, each attracting around 1.4 million passengers, followed by Tel Aviv with approximately 1 million travelers, and Thessaloniki, Manchester, and Vienna.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

In a press release, the Ministry highlighted that passenger traffic for January through December 2024 surpassed all previous records, with a 5.6% growth compared to 2023 and a 9.1% increase over pre-pandemic levels in 2019. These figures underscore the sector’s remarkable recovery and Cyprus’ rising appeal as a destination.

“Despite economic pressures and geopolitical uncertainties, Cyprus has demonstrated resilience in tourism,” the Ministry stated. Travel patterns showed an encouraging trend, with demand extending beyond the traditional summer months. Passenger numbers for January to March and September to December rose by over 7% compared to the previous year.

The busiest travel months, May to October, accounted for 67% of total traffic, with 8.2 million passengers passing through the airports. August set the record as the busiest month, with Larnaca Airport seeing its peak daily traffic—21,189 passengers—on August 26. March stood out as the fastest-growing month, with a 12% year-on-year increase in passenger numbers.

December also closed the year on a high note, with 654,760 passengers passing through Larnaca and Paphos airports—a 10.5% rise compared to December 2023. While Larnaca saw a 15.06% increase, Paphos experienced a slight decline of 0.74%. Christmas Day marked the quietest moment of the year, with just 341 passengers at Paphos Airport.

Aircraft traffic mirrored the growth trend, with 5,732 flights recorded in December—a 4.12% increase over 2023.

The Ministry credited its success to incentive schemes introduced in 2012 in partnership with Hermes Airports. Backed by €240 million in targeted investments, these initiatives have opened new markets, boosted connectivity, and enhanced Cyprus’ competitive edge in the civil aviation sector.

Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades reaffirmed the government’s commitment to further strengthening the industry. “We will continue promoting initiatives that enhance resilience and improve connectivity, ensuring Cyprus remains a top choice for travelers worldwide,” he said.

This record-breaking year for Cyprus’ airports underscores the island’s enduring appeal and the effectiveness of long-term strategic investments in aviation and tourism.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

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.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

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.