Cyprus-Forum.com

[DT.]

Private jet is around £30,000 return....

you get a good 10 people on a ypical gulfstream...thats 3k per person.

[JimB]

It is passenger duty that their owner finds rediculous. Isn't it one of the most expensive in the world ? (don't quote me). I listened to the owner on the radio a month or so back and he was fuming at the prices. He was guaranteeing 75,000 customers a year, and was still refused.
Adding the cost to a ticket reduces their attractive priceing, which was an average of £150.00 return, in peak season.

150 return is not that much when added to an already cheap airfare. Ryan Air will still be the cheapest airfare available.

And yes, I have also read that Cypriot Airports are amongst the most expensive in the world. But, Hermes need to pay for the Pafos and Larnaca development.

The issue is that if Hermes and the Cyprus Government yield to the demands of Ryan Air, then the precedance is set for all the other airlines that fly to Cyprus. It is just not worth it.

Bit short sighted though. Increased passenger numbers would lead to increased spend in other areas of the airport e.g. duty free, cafes / bars and car / coach parking fee's.

I'm trying to work out how it would not be 'worth it' to the operator to lower fee's when the increased passenger numbers would negate the impact.

Those additional passengers would also benefit the local economy in other areas (tourism / property / financial / tax revenue etc. etc.).

Whilst I agree that an airport isn't cheap to build / operate, the financing of this through increased fees displays a level of arrogance by the operator and indifference by the local government.

Price is the biggest single determinant for the majority of tourists and Cyprus is way down the scale on value for money in comparison to other resorts.

In the current climate of increasing fuel taxes, the strong euro and the increasing awareness of climate change all having an impact, passenger numbers could reasonably be expected to fall further.

The airlines operate on a commercial basis and if the route is no longer viable they will switch to somewhere more attractive.

The local government should intervene and cap the fee's / finance the project as the airports pricing is damaging to the economy.

Failing that take the contract off Hermes and open up the arena for some competition. The current pricing is indicative of a company abusing a monopoly situation.

Though I must admit it'd be nice to have an empty, shiny airport as I hate queues and crowds. Just hope that I'll be able to get a plane out before they shut it down for good.

Simple economics.