by thenational.ae –Hayley Skirka— Low-cost airline Ryanair has announced new direct flights from Beirut to Pafos. Commencing on October 30, the service will fly three times a week from the Lebanese capital to the southwestern city in Cyprus. Fares are currently on sale from just Dh90 one-way, with flights departing Lebanon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The 300-kilometre route will be served by a Boeing 737 and the new route cuts travel times for passengers who will be able to fly direct to Pafos in just over one hour. Previously, the fastest journey for this route took over four hours with travellers having to connect in either Larnaca, Amman or Istanbul. Some airlines also fly passengers travelling between Beirut and Pathos as far out as Warsaw or London, before shuttling them back to Pafos. Ryanair representative Chiara Ravara said: “We’re pleased to announce Ryanair’s low fares have arrived at Beirut, our newest airport and our first in Lebanon. Our new route to Pafos, Cyprus commences in October 2019 and will operate three times weekly for Winter 2019, ensuring customers in Lebanon can book low fare flights to Pafosas far out as March 2020.”

Home to Cyprus’s second-largest international airport, Pafos offers holidaymakers gorgeous coastlines and unspoilt beaches like Coral Bay in the Pegeia region or the ever-popular Aphrodite’s Beach with its famous rock. There’s also plenty for history lovers to explore with many remains from buildings, palaces, fortresses and tombs from as far back as the neolithic period. Ryanair offers low-cost base fares for flights with extra charges for things like reserving seats, large cabin baggage, hold luggage and checking in at the airport.