On the back of its recent relaunch, TUS Airways has taken delivery of its fifth Airbus A320, set to help the carrier expand its current offerings from its base in Cyprus.
The latest addition
The 16-year-old Airbus A320-200, formerly 9H-AEO, has previously served with Air Malta and airline startup Malta MedAir, having flown with the carrier until March of this year before being stored at Luqa Airport. After a brief hiatus, the jet was sent to Norwich on 30 June, likely for a repaint in TUS’ livery, before heading off to Larnaca to join the Cypriot airline’s current all-Airbus fleet.
“The arrival of our fifth aircraft marks yet another exciting milestone for the airline as we continue to expand flight operations, further strengthen the airline’s leading position and driving the growth of air travel from Cyprus and across the Mediterranean,” noted airline chief Ahmed Aly.
The arrival of the jet will see TUS increase frequencies on its current scheduled routes between Larnaca to Tel Aviv, Paris and Greece, as well as support the launch of its brand-new Tel Aviv-bound charter service.
The carrier is currently operating a rapidly expanding network map, with destinations including Dusseldorf, Toulouse, and Verona from its bases in Larnaca, Paphos, and Tel Aviv. Additional routes are set to commence through 2022, adding further connections to Tel Aviv and southern Israel airport Eilat-Ramon.
Questions have been raised regarding TUS’ future expansion following reported interest in the uptake of an ex-Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330 to connect longer-haul destinations with Cyprus. Potential destinations floated have included Sharm El Sheikh, Dubai, Jeddah, and Riyadh, as well as previous announcements from the airline regarding landing rights for Beijing. However, in a statement provided to Simple Flying in June, an airline spokesperson confirmed that the airline has yet to make a final decision on its long-haul services.
Recent history
Despite rumors of ceasing operations following a suspension of services back in 2019, the Cyprus-based airline has recently rebranded itself as a hybrid operating model to keep it competitive against both low-cost and full-service operators.
TUS’s current Airbus A320 fleet is configured in an all-economy layout; however, the airline currently caters to scheduled and chartered services.
Capitalizing on its location at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and North Africa, TUS has been swooping up new routes, focusing primarily on operations in Europe and the Levant.
Commandeering the airline’s revitalization is recently appointed CEO Ahmed Aly, leading the airline’s expansion out of its primary base in Larnaca.
“As the airline embarks on the next chapter of its development, my focus will be to strengthen the airline’s leading position in Cyprus & the Mediterranean by offering a raft of exciting & innovative products and destinations to our customers,” said Aly in a recent statement.
Aly, having worked alongside Qatar Airways and Etihad before a five-year stint as CEO of Egypt-based Nile Air, will focus on developing the airline’s transformation, growth, and strategy as TUS establishes itself as Cyprus’ leading airline.
What are your thoughts on TUS Airways' latest fleet additions? Will you be flying with the carrier this year? Let us know in the comments.
Source: Aviation Direct