Cyprus-Greece ferry connection faces potential termination

The maritime ferry connection between Cyprus and Greece, established in 2022, faces potential termination due to lack of sustainability. Haralambos Manolis, CEO of Scandro Holding Ltd, which operates the Larnaca-Piraeus route, warned that if state subsidies are not renewed, the service may not continue beyond 2027.

The connection initially received three years of state subsidies approved by the European Commission. While the subsidy period was extended for an additional three years, the service has struggled to meet sustainability expectations. Manolis attributed the failure to low demand compared to Greek island ferry routes, stating, "We could not make the line sustainable. The reason is that there is not a high demand like in Greece, where ferries are used to go to the islands."

Currently, ferry services operate from April to September. While a separate vessel operates during the October-March period, Manolis noted that the business would remain unsustainable unless flexibility is granted to carry cargo instead of passengers during those months.