Wanted: an EU-owned airline to operate air services between Ireland and Larnaca and Pafos international airports on Cyprus from the summer of 2010 onwards. Replies to the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) by September 18th.

The island’s tourist body has taken the unusual step of advertising for airlines to pitch for these routes, along with services to Germany and Italy. The scheme is backed with funds from the EU.

Neither Aer Lingus nor Ryanair operates flights from here to Cyprus, and the politically divided island seems to be declining in popularity with Irish travellers.

Figures from CTO show that 23,632 tourists arrived from Ireland last year, half the level of 2006. That might be redressed somewhat this autumn, when the Irish soccer team travels to Cyprus for a World Cup qualifier.

It is said that staying in is the new going out, which might explain the dip in profits at one of the companies operated by the Ward Anderson cinema chain here.

Irish Multiplex Cinemas Ltd posted a profit of €909,776 for the year to the end of October 2008, 5 per cent down on the previous year.

“The directors anticipate that 2009 will be a difficult year but they expect the company to achieve profits similar to 2008 by focusing on retaining existing business and tightly monitoring all costs.”