Cobalt Receives Operating License, Launches Operations

Cobalt, the new Cyprus-based airline, has received its operating license by the Cypriot Air Transport Licensing Authority, the carrier announced on Tuesday.

The award of the license clears the way for Cobalt to launch commercial services, after earlier receiving its air operators certificate from the civil aviation department on May 18.

“This has been a long — and at times — difficult road but we are delighted that the new wings of Cyprus are now taking to the air”, said Cobalt’s chairman, Gregory Diacou, adding that Cyprus has been without a national carrier for too long.

“A strong home airline is a vital part of our national infrastructure”, Mr Diacou said.

According to the airline’s chairman, the airline will fulfill its pledge to build a strong network based on a Larnaca hub with scheduled flights to a wide range of cities in Greece, the UK and Ireland and to continental Europe starting from July 7.

Services to Beirut and Tel Aviv will also start in July subject to allocation of traffic rights by the Cypriot government. The airline will operate non-scheduled services from this week.

Mr. Diacou said that marketing efforts would be concentrated, initially, on the local market and on the UK and Ireland, to boost inbound traffic, over the coming three weeks.

The Cobalt website at www.cobalt.aero has already launched sales and the airline’s call centres are also operational.

“Cobalt aims to offer the best value in the skies with very reasonable prices. In terms of product, we will be innovative, and focused on technology and security, with a very different style to that of other low cost carriers”, said Cobalt’s CEO, Andrew Pyne, adding that the key point is that customers can expect to see fares come down sharply as the carrier enters key markets, something already happening in Cyprus.

“This is obvious to Cypriot travellers, but there will be wider benefits to Cypriot tourism as we connect more cities and countries to the island and build a strong connecting hub through Larnaca”, he said.