Cyprus-based airline Cobalt has launched a new twice weekly direct scheduled service from Dublin Airport to Larnaca.
The new route will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays from July 9 until September 3.
“We’re delighted that Dublin-Larnaca is one of Cobalt’s first routes and we look forward to working closely with them to help promote this new service,” said Dublin Airport Managing Director Vincent Harrison. “Cyprus has traditionally been a popular destination for Irish holidaymakers and this new scheduled service will make it much easier for Irish consumers thinking about a summer break in Cyprus.”
Cobalt’s Chief Executive Andrew Pyne said he was delighted to re-establish an air-link between the two islands of Cyprus and Ireland.
“Cyprus historically hosted up to 70,000 Irish tourists annually, but with the lack of a direct air link these numbers dwindled to near zero. Cyprus has a lot to offer and similar to Ireland is keen to develop alternative touristic areas. Offering more than just fantastic weather and superb beaches, Cyprus is developing year-round activities, from skiing to wine tasting and from bird watching to swimming with the turtles; it has plenty to offer all age groups.”
While Cobalt is starting with a point-to-point service from Dublin to Larnaca, it already has plans to expand, according to Mr Pyne. “Our intention for the near future is to offer connections from Dublin via Larnaca to Israel and Lebanon and we look forward to offering a great Cypriot-style ‘Fáilte’ to our Irish customers.”
Cyprus is one of the Mediterranean’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting more than two million visitors annually. Dublin Airport has had charter services to Cyprus in the past, but this will be its first direct scheduled service to the island.
Cobalt, which started operations on June 1, is Cyprus’ first airline since the collapse of Cyprus Airways in January 2015. The new airline will operate its Dublin route with a 180-seater Airbus A320 aircraft.
Fares from Dublin to Larnaca will start at €99 return. Tickets are on sale from the airline’s website at www.cobalt.aero
The flight times for the new service are as follows:
Depart Dublin 15.55, arriving Larnaca at 23.10
Depart Larnaca at 11.35, arriving in Dublin at 15.10.
Cobalt’s new Dublin-Larnaca route will be Dublin Airport’s seventeenth new service this year. Helped by new routes and additional capacity on existing services, passenger traffic at Dublin Airport is up 14% in the five months to the end of May.
Image above: Vathia Gonia Beach, Cyprus