UK Tour Operators Block Ryanair Cyprus Flights

UK tour operators have threatened the Cyprus Tourism Organisation with a mass pull-out if it allows Ryanair to include UK-Cyprus routes in its future flights to the island, said Travel Weekly.

Ryanair wanted to fly from Stansted Airport, but has been blocked after UK tour operators objected.

"The UK tour operators were upset. We did not want anyone to cannibalise the market," said CTO UK director Orestis Rossides.

Ryanair announced earlier this month that it would start flights to Cyprus from Belgium and deliver 500,000 passengers over five years. The company has refused to comment on speculation that it will start long-haul flights from the UK to Cyprus.