Cyprus Airways announces launch of flights to London Stansted Airport from April 2027

Cyprus Airways has announced its long-awaited return to London with services between Larnaca and Stansted launching in April next year. The airline last regularly served London until 2015, also flying to Stansted – though it was a different company at the time, under government ownership.

Its Stansted service was suspended as the carrier ceased operations in January 2015. The new version of the company established in 2016 is legally registered as Charlie Airlines Ltd butuses the Cyprus Airways trademark. It has not flown to London, but had hoped to launch flights to the city in 2021. This did not fall through.

The airline is growing fast, operating a modern fleet of Airbus A220s and A320 family jets, with plans to incorporate two A320neos in the near future, the company’s CEO Thanos Pascalis says. It hopes to add several more destinations in Europe and the Middle East over the next few months, while also revitalising its business class offering. A loyalty scheme is coming soon.

The new route caters to the London-based Cypriot diaspora

The carrier says it will operate daily to what is one of Cyprus’ largest markets from 23 April 2027. This is already reflected in schedules. Flights are also already bookable on the airline’s website, with the following flight times on its Airbus A320 fleet.

Operating to Stansted is strategic for two reasons. Firstly, it keeps costs low relative to other gateways like London Heathrow (where slot availability is a primary impediment). Secondly, it is slightly North from the city of London, convenient for the Cypriot diaspora that lives in the city.

According to the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, a large portion of the 340,000-strong U.K. diaspora can be found in the London boroughs of Haringey, Barnet and Enfield. A more recent wave of first-generation Cypriots has begun settling in East London.

In a statement, the company said: “The new route marks another important milestone in the expansion of our network, strengthening connectivity between Cyprus and the United Kingdom – one of the island’s most important travel markets.”

“Whether travelling for business, leisure, or to reconnect with family and friends, passengers can look forward to convenient daily flights and authentic Cypriot hospitality on board.”

Cyprus Airways faces heavy competition on its London route

Cyprus Airways will have to ensure its prices and product remain competitive on a route that already sees a variety of different players.

British Airways currently operates the London-Larnaca route four times daily during the winter season from its Heathrow base, as well as an additional daily service from Heathrow according to information from aviation analytics firm, Cirium.

A handful of low-cost and leisure carriers also fly the route from a mix of London’s airports, including easyJet, Wizz Air, TUI and Jet2.

The above illustration shows the competition and indicative pricing for each of the carriers on the route in May 2027 if booked at the time of publication. It reflects the cheapest available fare, regardless of baggage and other amenities.

Contrary to some of its competition – including Wizz Air and easyJet for instance – Cyprus Airways’ ticket price includes a carry-on bag.