Originally Posted by
Cyba
It's such a shame that CY wasn't sold to A3 last time they tried when they still had their two LHR slots to keep some competition around for BA. Now even if they take it over it will be purely or mostly as a feeder to the ATH hub and possibly a couple more routes (TLV?)
No, that makes no sense. A3 is already number one for seats on LCA-ATH (and CY is number 2, there are no other competitors).
CY is a financial basket case but it has a substantial route structure worthy of A3's interest. According to the Cyprus Mail, A3 is looking to make LCA a second hub.
Originally Posted by CAPA analysis
Cyprus Airways is the biggest airline by number of seats on five of its top 10 routes from Larnaca: Tel Aviv, Thessaloniki, Amsterdam, Paris and Zurich. It has lost its number one position on Larnaca to London (its biggest route in Western Europe), which has also seen the entry of Thomas Cook Airlines and Norwegian. It is now ranked third on the London route (treated as a city pair). [BA is first, Monarch is second on LON-LCA].
If Cyprus is treated as a single market, Cyprus Airways ranks fifth by number of seats to/from London, behind easyJet, BA, Monarch and Ryanair.
It is also number 2 on FRA-LCA and BEY-LCA.
ATH-LCA is its biggest route and one of A3's largest routes too.
The principle problem for any purchaser is that CY's cost per available seat-kilometre is high even for a full service carrier. It will require strong management to turn that around. A3 could provide that, in my inexperienced view, but it will require the Cypriot authorities to step back.
Originally Posted by
Calchas