Cypriot startup Cobalt Air (CO/FCB) have added Cardiff to their list of destinations served from Larnaca (LCA/LCLK), Cyprus according to their website.
The airline, which aims to be Cyprus’ flag carrier, launched last year with the intention of “redefining the low-cost travel sector by combining the price flexibility and cost advantages of the low-cost carrier business model with a high-tech in-flight service delivery.”
Although an official start date has yet to be announced sources told Aviation Wales that it is expected to start for the summer 2017 season with an expectation of it to become an all year route if the demand is shown.
The Larnaca – Cardiff route was one of the originally proposed routes when Cobalt launched last year however this had been put off but the appearance of Cardiff under its UK Destinations indicates that an agreement between the airline and the airport has been reached.
Larnaca is currently served by Thomson and Thomas Cook from Cardiff in the summer.
Cardiff Airport have so far declined to comment on the new route so here is what is known so far:
- April 2016 – Cobalt prepared for launch in Q2 2016 vaunting Cardiff as a destination. Cardiff Airport said they had been in talks with the airline but no commercial agreement had been reached.
- May 2016 – Cobalt launched at the end of Q2 2016 with a smaller than planned destination list.
- December 2016 – At the end of 2016, Cobalt had 1 A319 and 1 A320 on its books but says it will have 7 aircraft in operation through 2017, All of which are the Airbus A320 family.
- Jan 2017 – Cobalt adds Cardiff to its list of destinations served.
Cobalt was started by Gregory Diacou and Andrew Pyne and recruited a huge swathe of Ex-Cyrus Airways staff. It gained its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) in May 2016. Andrew Pyne was replaced by Andrew Madar as CEO as the airline launched.
On its website Cobalt describes itself as “new international airline with its principal place of business in Cyprus. With a route structure across the UK, Ireland*, France and Greece. Cobalt will be the flag carrier for the Republic of Cyprus with a network of flying rights within all of the EU and additionally with special rights to the East and South of Europe. It will not only bring the world to Cyprus as an attractive destination, but will use Cyprus as hub to connect Asia, Middle East, Africa and Europe.”
The caveat here of course is that this has, as yet, to be officially confirmed by Cardiff Airport but the adding of the destination to the website plus industry sources lend weight to the new route. As a popular destination for British travellers a low-cost service to Cyprus from Cardiff would be expected to prove popular.
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That service would be absolutely wonderful. Great news. Please keep me informed of any further developments.