Larnaca

Wizz Air’s President: We want to continue building on our position as number one at Larnaca airport

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Wizz Air’s President: We want to continue building on our position as number one at Larnaca airport

– Wizz Air established a base at Larnaca Airport in 2020.
– Since its establishment, Wizz Air has doubled its capacity at Larnaca Airport.
– Wizz Air is now the leading airline in Larnaca and the second overall in Cyprus.
– In 2023, Wizz Air experienced a significant increase in passenger numbers in Cyprus compared to 2022.
– The increase in passengers was attributed to new destinations, Cyprus’s tourism strategy, and Wizz Air’s low fares.
– Wizz Air navigated challenges such as the pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the conflict between Israel and Hamas by quickly reallocating capacity and was the first airline to return to pre-COVID levels by volume.
– Wizz Air operates at 160% of its pre-COVID capacity.
– The airline is focused on sustainability and is investing in new technology for the future, including the potential development of hydrogen aircraft.
– Cyprus aims to attract tourists from a wider range of countries and has been successful during the 2023 tourist season.
– Operational challenges in summer 2022 led Wizz Air to invest in schedule resilience.
– Wizz Air plans to continue growing, with potential new routes and increased frequencies to existing destinations.
– The airline carried 60 million passengers in 2023 and operates a fleet of around 180 aircraft, with plans to grow by 30 to 40 aircraft per year.

Dust over safety levels but showers in the afternoon and tomorrow

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Dust over safety levels but showers in the afternoon and tomorrow

A hazardous layer of dust is present in the atmosphere over many areas of the island, with PM10 particle measurements almost double the safety levels in Paralimni (86 micrograms), 60 in Larnaca, and just over 50 in Nicosia and Larnaca. Isolated showers and storms, mainly in the eastern half of Cyprus, are expected to clear out the dust. Winds are forecasted to be light to moderate southwesterly to northwesterly, with temperatures rising to 19 Celsius inland and in coastal regions, and 10 on the mountains. Isolated showers are possible, with a gradual rise in temperatures through to Tuesday, followed by a slight drop on Wednesday, near the seasonal average.

Nicosia exhibition honours Ukrainian women

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Nicosia exhibition honours Ukrainian women

The U.S. Embassy in Nicosia, in collaboration with Sunseed Art and Resilient Ukraine, presents an art exhibit titled “The Womanly Face of War” in Nicosia to mark the second anniversary of Russia’s re-invasion of Ukraine. The exhibit, opened by the United States Ambassador to Cyprus, Julie D. Fisher, on February 28, 2024, at Eleftheria Square, showcases the roles, challenges, and resilience of Ukrainian women. After debuting in Limassol Old Port on February 22, the exhibit moved to Eleftheria Square where it will remain until March 4, before relocating to Castle Square in Larnaca until International Women’s Day on March 8.

Where to catch live music this week

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Where to catch live music this week

– The last week of February, which includes an extra day this year, features several live music events on the island.
– Island Seeds, a local band, will perform at Prozak in Nicosia on February 28 at 8.45pm, presenting original songs and covers.
– Stamatis Kraounakis will have a concert at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre on February 28 at 8.30pm, performing old and new songs.
– Phillip Dyson will present a piano night at Technopolis 20 in Paphos on March 1 at 8pm, featuring classical, ragtime, and early jazz music.
– OnTour will perform at Ravens Music Hall in Limassol on March 2 from 10pm to 2am.
– Speak in Whispers, a metal band, will play at Savino Live in Larnaca on March 2 at 11pm.

Junior & Senior School summit spotlights voting, elections

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Junior & Senior School summit spotlights voting, elections

SENCON 2024, the first student-organised conference by the Junior and Senior School (J&SS), themed “Empowering the Voters of Tomorrow”, was held at the School’s Latsia campus on February 24, 2024. The conference, focused on voting and elections, aimed to raise awareness and encourage discussion among young people in anticipation of the upcoming euro parliamentary and municipal elections. It addressed the issues of misinformation and low awareness about electoral processes, which contribute to increasing abstention rates. Participants included students from J&SS and several other schools such as the American Academy Nicosia, the Franco-Cypriot school, Lyceum Dasoupolis, and others. The event featured speeches and presentations by various dignitaries including MP Savia Orphanidou, Dr Niyazi Kızılyürek, Nektarios Nicolaides, Andri Christofides, and Chrysostomos Kridiotis. The SENCON Secretariat was managed by students Emily Kyriakides, Andriana Dombo, Stephanos Artemis, and Fatima Sanjakdar, under the guidance of teacher Nicholas Shiaxiate.

International short film festival arrives in Paphos

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International short film festival arrives in Paphos

A Greek short film festival, aimed at showcasing young filmmakers, will screen its award-winning films in Cyprus, starting with Paphos. This leading festival of short drama films occurs every September and is presented globally. It is organized by the Department of Contemporary Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture, Rialto Theater, Drama Festival, Nicosia Cinema Friends Association, Larnaca Cinema Club, Paphos House of Arts and Letters, and Limassol Cinema Club. Screenings in Paphos are scheduled for Monday and Wednesday at 7.30pm at the House of Arts and Letters.

Larnaca is redefining itself for tourism and investment

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Larnaca is redefining itself for tourism and investment

Larnaca is emerging as a profitable business destination offering several opportunities for professionals, entrepreneurs, and investors. The city is developing steadily, offering safety, a high financial return, and is suitable for any type of investment. Larnaca is centrally located on the island, has a small population, minimal traffic delays, and is close to essential amenities including its own port, marina, and an international airport with global connectivity. The city provides a welcoming environment with ideal climatic conditions for families and business activities. It has good infrastructure, capable human resources, and lower business costs compared to other cities in Cyprus. The service sector in Larnaca is noted for its professionalism and low cost. The city is attractive to large companies, with opportunities in construction, photovoltaic parks, technology, services, and tourism. Investment opportunities are also highlighted in the city center and coastal areas. Larnaca has a large and safe sandy sea area, and several attractions like Agios Lazarus church, the castle, the Salt Lake, Hala Sultan tekke mosque, and the Patticheio theatre and park. The city aims to become a preferred investment and tourist destination through planning and the exploitation of its comparative advantages.

New Larnaca park unveiled

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New Larnaca park unveiled

Larnaca’s Mediterranean Artists’ Park, aimed at hosting outdoor art installations and cultural events, was recently introduced by the Larnaca municipality. Located in the Turkish Cypriot neighbourhood of Scala, near Piale Pasha, the park is part of an area known for its art workshops and has undergone facade restoration and improvement. The project, costing €994,440, received funding from both the European Union and the government.

Our View: Lowering urban speed limits , – safety measure or driver torture?

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Our View: Lowering urban speed limits , – safety measure or driver torture?

The public works department has proposed reducing the speed limit in certain urban areas from 50km/h to 30km/h to reduce fatal car crashes, carbon emissions, and encourage sustainable mobility. This proposal has the support of the police. The reduced speed limit is initially planned for roads with high car traffic and pedestrian use, and roads leading to intersections with frequent accidents, specifically in Nicosia, Larnaca, and Limassol.

Supreme Court case uncovers mobile phone use in prisons

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Supreme Court case uncovers mobile phone use in prisons

A judicial decision disclosed that crimes were allegedly being orchestrated from the Central Prisons via mobile phones. The Police, acting on a judicial search warrant based on “highly reliable” information, investigated a case where a convict, using a smartphone, ordered another individual outside the prison to commit a criminal act. This information led to a search warrant for the residence, assets, and vehicles of the suspected individual outside the prison. The Supreme Court issued a decision on February 20, regarding this matter. The Police are investigating offenses including conspiracy to commit a felony, threat of violence, and participation in a criminal organization. A citizen, through his lawyer, requested the Supreme Court to annul the search warrant and prohibit the use of any data obtained through it, arguing insufficient grounds for its issuance. Judge Lena Dimitriadou-Andreou found the issue debatable and granted permission to file an application to annul the search warrant, with the case scheduled for February 29, 2024.