Cyprus Airways is expanding. Photo: Shutterstock Thanos Pascalis, CEO of Cyprus Airways, said in a post on his LinkedIn account that after the company announced two new routes, it is expected to announce two more soon.
He said that within the next six months, Cyprus Airways is expected to add a total of four new routes to destinations in Europe and the Middle East. The CEO did not reveal the identities of the two new destinations that have not yet been announced.
In addition to expanding its route network, Cyprus Airways also plans to increase its fleet. According to the CEO, two Airbus A320neo aircraft will join the company in the near future.
In addition, the company intends to bring several activities in-house as part of the continued strengthening of its operational capabilities.
Innovations are also expected on the passenger experience side. Pascalis noted that the company is continuing to develop its business class product, and that a new loyalty program is expected to be available to passengers soon.
Pascalis also referred to the company's performance during the summer season, noting that Cyprus Airways recorded, according to him, zero flight cancellations and a high level of punctuality.
However, he emphasized that a significant portion of the delays airlines face is caused by factors beyond their control, primarily limitations in air traffic control systems.
He said that on certain days, all of the company's flights receive CTOT restrictions, takeoff time windows determined by air traffic management systems, in a way that directly affects schedules.
Alongside the criticism, Pascalis emphasized that the company also receives cooperation and significant effort from many air traffic controllers.
The CEO of Cyprus Airways devoted much of the post to the state of the engineering and maintenance sector in the aviation industry.
Pascalis criticized longer processes and sharply rising costs, citing, among other things, aircraft models delayed for years, aircraft configuration changes that take more than 12 months in the manufacturer's preparation phase, and structural repairs that may take between three and six months.
Despite the criticism, Pascalis' main message is of continued growth: four new routes within six months, two additional A320neo aircraft, expansion of the business class product, and a new loyalty program on the way.
The CEO ended with a short message: "Stay tuned," ahead of the company's next announcements.