Cyprus Airways pulls out of Heathrow
Cyprus Airways is to cease operating from Heathrow and will shift its London flights to Stansted from September after selling its last remaining pair of take off and landing slots at the premier hub to American Airlines for €22 million yesterday.
The slots were used by Flights CY346 and CY347 operating between London and Larnaca, but the airline said the sale would make the loss-making route more viable.
It is understood that the last Heathrow to Larnaca flight will leave on September 13, after which the flight will operate from Stansted.
Passengers who have booked seats on flights to Larnaca later than September 13 have been told by email they will now be flying from Stansted. They have been told a free transfer coach will be laid on, but details have not yet been confirmed.
A spokeswoman for Stansted airport said she was not aware of the move, but the airline’s chairman Tony Antoniou told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that the sale of the Heathrow slot had been finalized.
He said it was part of the airline’s restructuring plan and denied the management was stripping the airline of its assets and lucrative routes, insisting instead that selling the slot would rescue the company.
It reportedly first sold one of its Heathrow slots three years ago for €22 million and a second more recently for €6.5m.
A Heathrow spokeswoman said: "Cyprus Airlines operate primarily short-haul, leisure routes which are well served by point-to-point airports such as Stansted, and we wish them the best of luck in their new home.
"Their slots will now go to long-haul carriers MEA and American, with routes that will be supported by the transfer traffic only a hub airport can provide."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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