Future of Cyprus-Greece ferry service remains uncertain beyond 2027

The maritime passenger connection between Cyprus and Greece, operated by Scandro Holding Ltd, is confirmed to continue through 2027 under the existing contract. However, the future of the route remains uncertain beyond that date as the service has failed to achieve the goal of independent financial viability. Charalambos Manoli, CEO of Scandro Holding, attributed the lack of sustainability to low demand outside of peak August travel, noting that passenger counts average 100 per crossing in June and 200-250 in July, reaching full capacity only in August.

The service, which launched in 2022 with European Commission-approved state subsidies, operates seasonally from late May to early September. Following concerns raised by the operator regarding the need for continued subsidies, Kyriakos Aliouris, Deputy Director of the Shipping Deputy Ministry, confirmed that the current contract is secure until next summer. The government plans to evaluate five years of operational data in 2027 to determine whether to renew financial support for 2028 and beyond.