Aegean Airlines has unveiled plans to boost its operations from Larnaca, following the collapse of Cyprus Airways, by adding new services to five western European cities.

From 30 March, the Greek carrier will base four Airbus A320s at Larnaca and increase the number of destinations served from the Cypriot airport to 14.

As part of the network expansion, Aegean will fly daily to London Heathrow, thrice weekly service to Paris Charles de Gaulle, and twice weekly to Milan Malpensa, Munich and Rome Fiumicino.

Beirut, Kiev and Tel Aviv are also to be served from Larnaca once Aegean secures the necessary traffic rights.

Cyprus Airways operated a Larnaca-Heathrow route in the past but switched its London service to Stansted after selling slots at the UK capital's biggest hub. British Airways also flies the Larnaca-Heathrow route, and a number of carriers serve the Cypriot airport from London Gatwick.

Beirut, Paris and Tel Aviv were all served by Cyprus Airways until its demise. The defunct carrier had served Munich in the past but recently dropped the German city from its network.

Aegean is additionally planning to boost frequencies to Athens and Thessaloniki as part of what vice-chairman Eftichios Vasilakis terms "our company's new course of gradual, but long-lasting growth in Cyprus".

Larnaca airport is keeping quiet about the extent to which routes formerly operated by Cyprus Airways will be picked up by other airlines. "For the time being, we would prefer to wait before we make any comment to the press regarding the closure of Cyprus Airways and the possible impact on our airport's operations," says the airport.

Source: Cirium Dashboard