Cyprus, the third largest island in the Mediterranean is popular with British families as a summer holiday destination. Whilst UK holidaymakers make up over 50% of tourist entries to Cyprus, numbers have been falling due to the weakness of £ Sterling against the € Euro so low cost flights have become even more popular.
EasyJet has been offering budget flights to Paphos since April 2008 when it took over GB Airways, previously running the routes as a British Airways franchise. The Easyjet flights to Paphos from Gatwick and Manchester have been so popular that the company recently named Larnaca as one of four new routes from London Gatwick for summer 2009.
Cheap Flights to Cyprus
In the past, budget airlines from the UK simply would not consider Cyprus as a destination, mainly due to the 4.5 hour flying time, which is incompatible with the usual business models. But pressure from the Cypriot government, together with the lure of additional multiple landing slots at Gatwick and Manchester airports, persuaded EasyJet’s Cypriot-born founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou that flights to the island should commence.
Whilst prices to and from Paphos start at only £40.99 one way, there are only a limited number of seats at lower prices. Average fares are closer to £80 but this is still cheaper than the average scheduled airline fare of over £250 return.
Cheap Cyprus Holidays
Cash-strapped British consumers can also choose from a number of charter airlines offering flight-only deals as well as cheap all-inclusive packages with flight, hotel accommodation and food. Major holiday companies offering good deals on flights include Thomas Cook, Thomson and Olympic with flights starting from around £210 return inclusive of all taxes and airport fees.
EasyJet’s Flight Schedule to Paphos and Larnaca
Flights to and from Paphos operate daily and the new Larnaca route will operate four times per week. Flights can be booked either return or just one way and customers can also benefit from cheap car hire offered by easyCar.
EasyJet’s cheap flight from Gatwick to Larnaca will offer further deals for the budget stretched holidaymaker as easyHotel’s latest hotel opens in Larnaca in summer 2009.
Flying with EasyJet
Budget airlines like EasyJet operate on a no-thrills basis to keep costs down. EasyJet’s baggage allowance is 20kg per person but this costs an additional £6. Excess baggage is charged at £6 per kilo if pre-booked online and there is the usual bun-fight to get a seat of choice as customers find their own seat once through the boarding gate. Regular EasyJetters, however, know certain tricks to avoid sitting next to the passenger from hell, like taking egg sandwiches onto the plane to steer other passengers away from their seat row!
Book Cyprus Budget Flights
Despite the no-thrills negatives and potential extra baggage costs, EasyJet’s budget flight prices are proving popular with the Cypriot tourist industry and certainly with budget-conscious holidaymakers who are booking up seats quickly.
Go to the Easyjet.com site to check the latest prices available. New route Bristol to Paphos from early 2010.
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Helen Smeaton - Helen Smeaton runs a cycling and hiking business and is also a freelance writer and web designer. Read her profile for more information
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