Cyprus Airways
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| Founded | 24 September 1947 | ||||||
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| Commenced operations | 18 April 1948 | ||||||
| Ceased operations | 30 January 2015 | ||||||
| Operating bases | Larnaca International Airport | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | Sunmiles | ||||||
| Fleet size | 7 | ||||||
| Destinations | 13 | ||||||
| Parent company | Government of Cyprus | ||||||
| Headquarters | Nicosia, Cyprus | ||||||
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| Website | cyprusair |
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Cyprus Airways (Greek: Κυπριακές Αερογραμμές Kypriakes Aerogrammes) was the flag carrier airline of Cyprus. It was established in September 1947 and ceased operations on 9 January 2015. Cyprus Airways had its operating base at Larnaca International Airport and traded as Cyprus Airways (Public) Ltd. In July 2016, Charlie Airlines acquired the rights to use the Cyprus Airways trademarks and brand.
The airline was established on 24 September 1947 as a joint venture between the Colonial Government of Cyprus, BEA (British European Airways), and private interests. Operations commenced on 18 April 1948 with three Douglas DC-3 aircraft. The planes, which carried 21 passengers each, flew on a route network centered on Nicosia that included Rome, London (via Athens), Beirut, Athens, Cairo, Istanbul, and Haifa. During the next three years the airline purchased an additional three DC-3 aircraft and introduced services to Alexandria, Amman, Bahrain, Khartoum (via Haifa) and Lod.
In 1952, BEA took over service to London with an Airspeed Ambassador, which featured a pressurized cabin that allowed nonstop routing avoiding a stopover in Athens. On 18 April 1953, BEA began using its newly delivered Vickers Viscount 701 on their scheduled service from London to Rome and Athens. The continuing sector from Athens to Nicosia was operated by BEA under charter to Cyprus Airways. This route from London to Nicosia was the world's first regular turboprop service.
In 1956, contemplating expansion of its routes, the company ordered two Vickers Viscount 756 aircraft that would be named St Hilarion (registration G-APCD) and Buffavento (G-APCE), but sold them before receiving them because of the political situation in Cyprus. It also decided to sell all the Douglas DC-3 and Auster aircraft in September 1957 and entered into a five-year agreement with BEA for the latter to operate services on behalf of Cyprus Airways.
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