CYPRUS Airways (CY) will launch a twice weekly charter flight to Amman as of June 7, it announced yesterday, along with six weekly flights to Brussels.The agreement for flights to Amman was signed with Jordanian travel agents in a bid to not only increase tourism from the area to the island but also for Cypriots who wish to visit there.The national carrier will also start six flights weekly to Brussels next month from Larnaca, every day apart from Saturday, as Cyprus takes over the EU presidency in July.In addition, as part of an agreement between CY and various Cypriot travel agents, 60 charter flights will operate to destinations in Greece and Europe from July to September including Skiathos, Kefalonia, Milan, Barcelona and Prague... 10 comments

A MINISTERIAL committee was appointed by Cabinet yesterday to deal with the ailing national airline Cyprus Airways (CY). The committee comprises of the ministers of finance, communications and works, commerce and labour. Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said the committee will work in cooperation with the company’s board of directors and unions to proceed with the implementation of previous cabinet decisions to increase the company’s share capital, prepare a restructuring plan to ensure its viability and find suitable investors.On Tuesday, the CY spokesman confirmed that Canadian conglomerate Triple Five showed interest in acquiring a majority stake in the airline through a letter sent on May 4, though no specific proposal has been tabled. ... 6 comments

CANADIAN conglomerate Triple Five is interested in acquiring a majority stake in Cyprus Airways , the Cypriot flag carrier said yesterday.The Canadian group had expressed its intention in a letter sent to the airline on May 4, Cyprus Airways said in a statement. The group had requested data on its financial situation and its activities, the carrier said."Triple Five informed the company that it would make its final decision on the issue after assessing this data," Cyprus Airways said.Cyprus Airways is majority controlled by the government. Representatives of Triple Five, which has business interests ranging from malls and real estate to hotels primarily in North America, visited Cyprus earlier this year... 5 comments

CYPRUS Airways (CY) has announced it will offer tickets at half price for every ticket bought, starting today and ending on May 13, as part of the Taxidi 2012 travel exhibition, which starts today and ends on Sunday.“For every ticket purchased (today) until May 13, for travel up to June 30, the opportunity will be offered to buy a second ticket at half price,” CY said. “The offer applies for all of Cyprus Airways’ direct destinations, except Tel Aviv, Beirut, Erbil and Saint Petersburg.”Taxidi 2012 will be open to the public today and tomorrow from 4pm-10pm, and on Sunday from 2pm-10 pm... 6 comments

THE SPOKESMAN of ailing state carrier Cyprus Airways (CY) yesterday dismissed reports claiming Canadian conglomerate Triple Five was interested in acquiring a 70 per cent share in the airline, saying it was “recycled news”.Kyriacos Kyriacou said interest had been shown by Triple Five - as well as other organisations - since CY announced its desire to seek investors back in October in its bid to keep the airline afloat.“But since the initial interest, no specific proposals have been submitted by Triple Five, or any of the other organisations,” said Kyriacou. “The company is not aware of the proposals that are being projected in the papers, so no, we can’t confirm any such information... 9 comments

MORE trouble is brewing for state carrier Cyprus Airways (CY), after its biggest workers’ unions yesterday said it was losing faith in the board of directors.The head of SYNIKA-SEK, Andreas Pierides, said CY was in urgent need of a business plan to increase its share capital, adding that the airline was close to “destruction”.He said the board was instead more interested in making “arbitrary changes” to the workers’ collective agreements, even though SYNIKA yesterday offered a positive response to the labour minister’s proposals for cuts in pay and benefits.Pierides said that before he left office, former finance minister Kikis Kazamias sent a letter to the board of directors telling them they had delayed in preparing a business plan to increase capital... 7 comments

CYPRUS Airways will launch a direct flight from Athens to London Heathrow Terminal 1 starting this October, the airline announced yesterday. The flights will take place daily, said the announcement, departing from Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos at 6.30pm and landing at Heathrow by 8.35pm... 4 comments

CYPRUS Airways’ (CY) consultations with German airline Lufthansa are of a “clearly advisory” nature, while no specific proposal has been made by Canadian conglomerate Triple Five to acquire shares in the state carrier, its executive chairman said yesterday... 6 comments

 CYPRUS Airways’ (CY) consultations with German airline Lufthansa are of a “clearly advisory” nature, while no specific proposal has been made by Canadian conglomerate Triple Five to acquire shares in the state carrier, its executive chairman said yesterday.Responding to reports that CY was discussing a rescue plan with Lufthansa and looking into selling shares to Triple Five, George Mavrocostas said that any consultations involving Lufthansa related only to its special advisory service, which deals with specialised issues in the airline industry.He said CY was seeking advice on how to make its flight schedule more efficient... 2 comments

CYPRUS Airways pilots grounded the airline’s planes for four hours yesterday so that they could all meet and sign legal suits against the company board, for unilaterally cutting their wages by 9.0 per cent this year. Their union PASIPY argued that it had agreed to the pay-cut for 2011 and was not consulted by the board before it decided to keep it in force this year... 6 comments