A Cyprus-based budget airline, Cobalt, announced Wednesday it will launch passenger flights to Greece and Britain from June. Cobalt said it was granted an Air Operator Certificate after a successful test flight with its first Cyprus-registered Airbus A320 from Larnaca to Heraklion in Greece. Its chairman, Gregory Diacou, said the carrier will begin flights to Athens on June 1, with UK and other European routes starting later next month.
By the end of June, Cobalt aims to add three more aircraft to its fleet, raising the total to 4 flying out of Larnaca international airport. "We have generated more than 100 new jobs locally and hundreds more will follow. Cyprus needs and deserves a strong home carrier with global ambitions," said Diacou. He said the company also plans to fly to non-European destinations, such as Israel, Lebanon, Russia, Iran and Egypt.