Cyprus airports handle 50,000 daily passengers as shipping sector faces carbon cost uncertainty

Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus’ airports are handling about 50,000 passengers and 325 flights daily during the peak summer season, while shipping companies in Cyprus and Greece face uncertainty over possible new international carbon charges.

Airport traffic and Larnaca access

Hermes Airports director of aviation development, marketing and communications Maria Kouroupi said Larnaca airport is operating approximately 230 flights a day and serving around 36,000 arriving and departing passengers daily.

Paphos airport is handling about 14,000 passengers a day across 95 flights, she added.

The road leading to the exits of Larnaca airport’s arrivals area has reopened to private vehicles after months of restricted access. Private cars may enter the area for brief stops to collect passengers, with police officers stationed there to supervise traffic and prevent congestion.

Shipping carbon proposals

Shipping companies in Cyprus and Greece could face substantially different carbon costs depending on which of four proposals is adopted by the International Maritime Organisation.

The options range from no direct greenhouse gas charge to a Tier 1 compliance price of $300 per tonne of CO2 equivalent.

The outcome concerns Cyprus’ shipmanagement cluster and the Greek-owned fleet, with potential implications for operating costs, charter agreements, investment in cleaner fuels and the commercial viability of older vessels.

Companies operating through European ports are already subject to the EU Emissions Trading System and FuelEU Maritime requirements. The possibility of a future IMO mechanism has raised concerns about overlapping charges for the same emissions.