Cobalt (Larnaca) chief executive officer Andrew Pyne says his airline is close to completing its AOC certification drive with the Cypriot Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) amid plans to launch flights early next year.
Aside from developing the island into a Mediterannean/Middle Eastern hub, Pyne said one of the LCC's ambitions is to reposition Cyprus as a year round market rather than what he termed, a "bucket and spade" beach destination.
"There is a plethora of interesting things to see and do away from the beaches, which support this goal. We would intend to work in close partnership with the CTO in reaching out to new markets, and to new market segments in countries which already deliver large numbers of incoming visitors," he said. "Russia clearly is an important target, as their options for convenient travel are narrow. We also plan to look further afield, for example, we see huge potential in countries like India and China."
Though no fleeting plans have yet been revealed, the start-up is believed to be leaning towards Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) and the A320 family of jets.
