Dorita Yiannakou
The Department of Civil Aviation and Aegean Airlines are expected to sign a contract in the coming days to establish direct flights between Larnaca and Brussels (Zaventem Airport). The move comes as part of a broader government effort to enhance Cyprus’s air links ahead of its upcoming EU presidency.
Following a proposal from the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Works, the government reissued a public tender for the route with an increased budget of €4.7 million, after the initial €3.7 million tender failed to attract bids earlier this year.
The revised budget proved sufficient to draw interest from Aegean Airlines, which submitted the only offer and is now set to operate the service under a Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract.
According to sources, the agreement ensures regular connectivity between Cyprus and the European capital, facilitating both official travel and broader passenger demand. Once the contract is signed, the government will carry out the necessary compliance checks to verify that Aegean meets all service, safety, and quality requirements.
Government officials confirmed that the tender was conducted through fast-track procedures, with the aim of ensuring convenient travel options for the thousands of delegates expected to visit Cyprus during its six-month presidency.
According to data from the Presidency, around 260 informal meetings will be held across the island, generating an estimated 62,500 overnight stays for visiting officials and participants.
The Larnaca–Brussels route is scheduled to launch in December 2025, with three flights per week initially. From January to July 2026, during the peak of the EU Presidency, service frequency will increase to five flights per week, before scaling back to three weekly flights through the end of July and two flights per week from August to November.
The new connection is expected to serve a wide range of passengers and ensure direct access between Cyprus and the European Union’s key decision-making centers, a crucial logistical step as the island takes on its high-profile European role.
