Cyprus-Forum.com

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No one likes a strike especially if they've been flying for a some hours and then are unable claim their baggage or if their flight is either delayed or cancelled. No trade union leader should advocate a strike unless its absolutely the last available option. In the aviation industry 'working to rule' and 'overtime bans' are far more disruptive. For example a wheel change on an aircraft can be completed in three quarters of an hour, do it by the book and it can take up to three hours. Most employers in the aviation business rely upon overtime as its cheaper than employing additional bodies, no overtime and things soon fall apart.

I've been on both sides of the fence in UK aviation both as a professional engineer and as a senior manager and have gone through what is now happening with Cyprus Airways and the Airports in Cyprus. I know from my own experience that the employees will lose out once they are sold/transferred to other businesses. The UK experience has not been lost on the Cypriots and they know that any prospective employer who is seeking to take a slice of the Cyprus aviation business will be wary of taking on a militant work force.

It can be argued that privitisation will reap rewards for the country as well as bringing Cyprus into line with EU policy, but if its so good why do the French and the Spanish still subsidise their aviation industry with what amounts to EU tax payers money, perhaps they know something the rest of us do'nt. In my own case I saw the cost of the department that I ran prior to it being sold off soar by 70% once it had been sold to another business, staff turnover trebled and the business had to employ people who we had rejected as being under qualified.

Being of an age that allowed me to have done with all this crap I took the money an ran along with about 60% of my former colleagues. Most of us still work in the aviation business as consultants doing what we always did for a lot more money advising governments, airlines and regulatory bodies on just such as is happening in Cyprus. Do it right and keep the staff on side, do it wrong and be prepared to wreck Cyprus as a destination or international hub.

[Agios Amvrosios]

I am not sure whetherdirect transatlantic flights be profitable for an island the size of Cyprus. I think that profitability will hinge on whether Cyprus can establish itself as a middle eastern base for transatlantic travel and say east and south Asian air travel to Europe from the other end. Who knows there may even be some direct African routes.

[ex_pat]

It'd be nice if Larnaca airport could manage to handle the flights they have at the moment before even contemplating expanding.

It is the worst airport I've ever travelled to/from.

It must be run by complete incompetents, and it's a dump (pretty much like Larnaca itself).

[brother]

Ex-pat you have some serious issues when it comes to cyprus for your sake move back to the u.k where you will probably be happier.

[city]

....It is the worst airport I've ever travelled to/from.....

it seems you haven't travelled a lot yet..... There are much worst places in the world.

[Yiannis]

Ex-pat you have some serious issues when it comes to cyprus for your sake move back to the u.k where you will probably be happier.

Wait ex_pat is right now living in Cyprus? So how does this work out? Im really curious. I agree with brother why dont u move back to the England's paradise???

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I am not sure whetherdirect transatlantic flights be profitable for an island the size of Cyprus. I think that profitability will hinge on whether Cyprus can establish itself as a middle eastern base for transatlantic travel and say east and south Asian air travel to Europe from the other end. Who knows there may even be some direct African routes.

Pre 74 and in the days of shorter range aircraft, Nicosia Airport was well placed to serve much of Africa and the Middle East. Predominately a Technical stop for long haul flights, Nicosia was just breaking into the main long haul markets as a hub when the airport was lost to civilian traffic. Deregulation and fierce competition in the aviation business now has the European airlines seeking alternative ways of increasing their load factors by serving destinations other than Europe, the African, Middle Eastern, the Indian Sub Continent and the Far Eastern markets being areas with the greatest growth potential. Combine the tourist flight market to and from Cyprus with onward/return journeys to these major growth areas and Cyprus becomes once again a central hub for aviation activity.

[Agios Amvrosios]

It is the worst airport I've ever travelled to/from.

Stop whinging matey- you probably should never consider flying into some of the remote Aussie airports if your sensitive. Do you know what it is like to live on vending machine Cuisine for 23 hours in 40 degree heat.

[ex_pat]

Stop whinging matey- you probably should never consider flying into some of the remote Aussie airports if your sensitive. Do you know what it is like to live on vending machine Cuisine for 23 hours in 40 degree heat.

No, and thanks for the tip. I tend to stay away from dumps like that - makes Larnaca sound modern, and that's saying something.

[cannedmoose]

The only awful things about Larnaka airport are the disgusting toilets and the standard of baggage handling. Other than this, it's acceptable, I've flown into far worse.