Ryanair has confirmed that it plans to bid for Cyprus Airways which is up for sale.
A business proposal for Cypriot carrier is to be submitted in time for the bid deadline on Friday.
The Cypriot authorities expect to receive about 15 different proposals.
The loss-making state-controlled airline’s new owner should be announced by the beginning of October.
Ryanair chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs told BBC Radio 5 live that the carrier had “a very positive meeting” with the Cypriot government and the airline last week.
He said the eastern Mediterranean was “a really fast-growing area” for travel.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has previously said his airline believes it can boost the Cypriot flag-carrier’s annual passenger numbers from their current level of 600,000 to three million.