Gerald Butt/NICOSIA
Eurocypria, the charter arm of Cyprus Airways, is to be separated from the national carrier as it seeks to expand and develop independently.
The move, which the 10-year- old charter airline has been seeking for some time, was confirmed by Cyprus Airways' chairman Haris Loizides. Earlier this year, when the two airlines announced plans for fleet renewals, the national carrier opted for more Airbuses, while the charter airline chose Boeing 737-800s.
"This was a clear indication to everyone that we want a completely independent Eurocypria," says Loizides. "We want to treat Eurocypria separately from a commercial point of view, but at the same time it is part of the same group. When it comes to airline planning issues and slots, the muscle that Cyprus Airways gives to Eurocypria is huge."
Eurocypria leases five A320s from Cyprus Airways, but these will be returned at the end of 2002 and replaced by four leased Boeing 737-800s the following year. Splitting the two operators should bring to an end a period of tension between the airlines' pilots. Under current arrangements, Eurocypria pilots have to share captaincy promotions with pilots from Cyprus Airways - an issue which has led to a strike threat this summer by the charter carrier's flight crews.
Loizides says that when Eurocypria hands the A320s back, any Cyprus Airways claim for the right of common seniority or captaincy in the charter operator will disappear. At the same time, Eurocypria would have the potential to become an independent airline which could grow on its own "with its own fleet and maintenance".
Source: Flight International
