Ryanair confirms bid for Cyprus Airways

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.