Cyprus Airways has decided to enforce an emergency action plan as a result of the of the US attack in Iraq, including the freezing of capital expenditure and employment, the suspension of seasonal employees, the oil purchase in advance and the observance of the oil prices.

Cyprus Airways Board Chairman, Charis Loizides, has also announced the suspension of all flights to the Gulf, Bahrain, Jeddah, Riyadh and Dubai, while flights to other destination in the Middle East, including Damascus, Beirut, Amman and Tel Aviv will be modified so that the Cyprus Airways crew will not stay overnight in Middle East countries. The suspension of flights will be effective until Sunday, when the Company will proceed to further examination of the issue.

Meanwhile, Commerce Minister, Giorgos Lillikas, said that the Cyprus Airways Board of Directors is considering the possibility of increasing several flights to certain tourist destinations, avoiding however to reveal further details.

Mr. Loizides added that new reservations have particularly frozen, while other tourist organizations - such as Eurocypria – already suffered cancellations.