May 8 - A top government official in Cyprus confirmed that Etihad Airways, Emirates Airline, Air Arabia, and Jazeera Airways have been in talks with the government to increase frequencies or launch new service to the Mediterranean country.  “Air Arabia has already received the rights to fly to Cyprus and it should launch operations by the fourth quarter of 2010 or 2011 from its Sharjah hub.  The airline has permission to operate three weekly flights to Cyprus” said Antonis Pashilides, Cyprus Minister of Trade, Commerce, Industry, Tourism and Energy.   

Mr. Paschilides said they hope to use Air Arabia’s Sharjah hub as a stepping stone to provide greater connectivity with India, because there are currently no direct flights operating between the two countries.  Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways has also received rights but had to delay their launch for some reason, he said.  The airline has been given a deadline to begin operations by the end of the year, and would also operate three weekly flights.  Paschilides said Emirates Airline has been given permission to increase its seven weekly flights to Cyprus to ten, and Etihad Airways is expected to increase its frequency of three weekly flights soon.