Wednesday October 21, 04:33 PM
REFILE-Cyprus's new airport to open Nov. 10
LARNACA, Cyprus Oct 21 (Reuters) - Cyprus's new 656 million euro ($980 million) international airport was unveiled to reporters on Wednesday, ahead of an official launch to travellers on Nov. 10.
The facility in the eastern
coastal town of Larnaca will serve up to 9 million passengers a year, up from the approximately 3.5 million passengers served by Larnaca's existing terminal.
'It's the biggest investment out of any public development project that has so far been undertaken,' said Nikos Shacolas, chairman of airport operator Hermes Airports Ltd.
About 70 percent of aircraft at the new airport will be served by boarding bridges, a first for the island, which has used buses to ferry passengers since 1974.
Operations will start on Nov. 10 with flights from national carrier Cyprus Airways and Easyjet (LSE: EZJ.L - news) .
Plans are in the pipeline for the creation of a 200 million euro airport hotel and leisure and entertainment complex.
'If we are given the go-ahead (by government) by February next year, these new spaces will be complete before the end of 2011,' Shacolas said.
Hermes Airports Ltd is a consortium of Cypriot and foreign shareholders including Bouygues Batiment International , Vancouver Airport Services and local group Cyprus Trading Corporation.
(Reporting by Sarah Ktisti, editing by Will Waterman)
($1=.6697 Euro) Keywords: CYPRUS AIRPORT/
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