Cyprus isn’t one of the cheapest destinations to fly to, but if you’re prepared to shop around for your flights to Cyprus, there are still some great deals out there. The introduction of “green taxes” has not helped the situation either, so finding the best prices is now an even bigger problem. Charter companies that only offer flights are a good bet, but you have to be brave enough to wait until the last minute before booking. This is not ideal if you have already booked your hotel accommodation and there is a rental car waiting for you at the Cyprus airport. The other problem with many of the charter flights is that they don’t always accommodate longer stays or one-way flights. These are becoming more in demand as vacation home owners spend more time on the island.
Sometimes it’s worth checking with travel agents in Cyprus if you’re looking for a one-way flight or even a return flight to the UK. It is rumored that most of the empty seats from Cyprus to the UK are transferred to these agents, especially the seats with the national. carriers. Even charter companies and global travel companies like Thompson and First Choice will need to put bums in seats, so to speak, so that’s also worth a try. Of course, the best tool at your disposal is the Internet, which will allow you to make instant price comparisons on your flights to Cyprus. That said, it may still be worth a visit to your local Cyprus travel agent if you’re looking to travel the other way.
One of the reasons flights to Cyprus are so expensive is the cost of landing taxes on the island. This, coupled with travel time, makes the island an expensive option for flight-only deals. There have been several occasions where it has been cheaper to book a last minute package tour rather than just a flight. The group then simply dispensed with accommodation and made their own airport transfer arrangements, such as a taxi or rental car. Again, however, the main drawback to this option is that you may have to wait until the last minute before booking your flight to Cyprus. However, for retired couples or people who are not tied to establishing vacation entitlements like the self-employed, this option could work very well. It really stands out too if you are one of those lucky people who own a villa or apartment in Cyprus.
For most people who wish to stay on the island for more than the standard two weeks, the best option may be to book with a company that operates regular flights to Cyprus. Unlike charter flights where a tour operator charters a plane and then fills it up, the scheduled plane flies the same route at the same time every week. Most of these companies will fly to a specific UK airport about twice a week or more from Cyprus and then fly back. Just like trains or buses, they are scheduled to fly on a predefined date and time based on your schedule. The only drawback is that in most cases they will only operate from the main locations, such as Luton or Heathrow, which may involve some extra travel to and from the airport. The advantage is that these companies need to fill those flights from Cyprus, so the cost can be quite competitive.
Another reason flights to Cyprus seem so expensive is that low cost airlines have spoiled us with those cheap flights to other parts of Europe. When you stop to consider the true cost of flying in terms of fuel plus capital outlay, air travel is, in fact, relatively cheap and affordable. Imagine, for example, paying a taxi driver per mile to take you and your luggage 2,400 miles! Considering that the cost of buying a taxi is only a small fraction of the price of the plane and would probably use less fuel for the entire trip than the plane consumes when taking off. If you look at it that way, a couple of hundred pounds or so to travel such a long distance and so fast actually makes them cheap flights to Cyprus.
