Cyprus-Greece ferry link may end in 2027 without State subsidy

Economy GreeceTop NewsTourismtravel Cyprus-Greece ferry link may end in 2027 without State subsidy Cyprus Greece Ferry Link May End In 2027 Without State Subsidy Relevant News Cyprus-Greece ferry link may end in 2027 without State subsidy 7 August 2026 Homo antecessor fossils reveal cannibalism among adults in Spain (photos+videos) 7 August 2026 Bus driver kicked explosive drone out of the air at German airport, lawmaker says 7 August 2026 Newsroom 7 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The Cyprus-Greece sea passenger link cannot continue unless the state subsidy is renewed, Charalambos Manoli, managing director of contracted operator Scandro Holding Ltd, told CNA, adding that the goal of making the route self-sustaining has not been achieved. Manoli was speaking about the future of the service, which began in 2022 following European Commission approval for a three-year state subsidy that was later extended for another three years. He said 2027 could be the line’s last year unless the subsidy is renewed, adding that the route has not become viable because, unlike in Greece, there isn’t enough demand from people using ships to reach islands. The service runs from late May to early September each year. Manoli said passenger numbers average around 100 per crossing in June, rising to 200-250 in July, with the ship only reaching capacity in August. He said the “AF Marina” is due to depart Limassol port on Saturday carrying 380 passengers, the highest number this season. “You can’t have a viable line with three months,” he said, adding that sustaining the route would require the ship to operate elsewhere during the nine months it isn’t running in Cyprus, but that without the flexibility to carry cargo or other goods, this isn’t feasible. Manoli said that if there is an intention to continue the subsidy and launch a new tender process, several emerging factors that add further complications would need to be taken into account. He cited, for example, the end of the temporary exemption of ferries from EU carbon dioxide emissions charges at the end of 2029, after which operators would have to pay a pollution levy, meaning any state subsidy would need to increase accordingly. He added that rising fuel prices are also a deterrent to attracting interest in a new tender process, unless a clause is included allowing the subsidy to change in the event of fuel price increases. Manoli said fuel costs are the biggest concern for the coming year, but said he hoped that, as with the price rises that followed the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine, a way would be found to keep the service running in 2027. On this year’s figures, Manoli said they are running at roughly the same levels as last year. Bookings for 2026 stand at around 8,900 passengers, 2,700 vehicles and 371 pets, compared with 8,238 passengers, 2,660 vehicles and 379 pets over the same period last year. He said that over the line’s five years of operation, most people have understood the ship’s role, though some still expect to be travelling on a cruise ship rather than a passenger and vehicle ferry. The “AF Marina” will make its final crossing of the season on September 1, departing from the port of Piraeus. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Homo antecessor fossils reveal cannibalism among adults in Spain (photos+videos) Bus driver kicked explosive drone out of the air at German airport, lawmaker says Road works on Famagusta-Larnaca highway completed, lane reopens Three dead, 23 injured, in Sri Lanka prison riots as overcrowding strains jails EasyJet in American hands: $7.7bn Apollo takeover – Haji-Ioannou’s position LEGO unveils Greek taverna set in Restaurants of the World (photos) Nicosia clears 2,300 abandoned vehicles, with 4,000 more to go (video) Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.