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Cyprus’ air traffic control system is operating with around 90 controllers, compared with an authorised requirement of 140, Parliament was told on Thursday, as MPs examined flight safety issues affecting the Nicosia Flight Information Region (FIR).
The staffing shortage was discussed during a joint closed-door meeting of the House Defence and Transport Committees, which also considered the risks created by Turkish military activity and other violations of the Republic’s airspace.
Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas and Transport Minister Eva Tsolakis attended the meeting.
Transport Committee chairman and ELAM MP Sotiris Ioannou said the work of air traffic controllers was critical to maintaining safe flight operations, particularly when unexpected situations arise.
He said 15 additional positions are currently in the process of being filled. The authorities also have plans to strengthen and upgrade air traffic control systems by 2030.
A separate issue concerns the creation of a state-owned air navigation company, an idea that has been under discussion for years. Parliament approved legislation for the company in 2019, but it has yet to begin operating.
Ioannou said the committee would seek an update from the Finance Ministry on the status of the project. Staffing in civil aviation is also expected to come under discussion during parliamentary consideration of the state budget in the coming weeks.
Controllers dealing with difficult conditions
The Pancyprian Air Traffic Controllers' Trade Union (PASEEK) said the staffing shortage is adding pressure to controllers who already have to manage unusual aviation risks in the Nicosia Area Control Centre.
Union president George Georgiou told the committees that warnings about the situation had been issued since 2012.
He referred to the August 19 incident involving a Turkish military Airbus A400 aircraft that entered the Nicosia FIR without communication and did not follow its flight plan while heading towards a passenger Boeing 737. According to the union, the incident demonstrated that the risks facing controllers are not isolated.
Georgiou said ATCEUC, the European federation representing more than 16,000 air traffic controllers, had also warned about the issue in 2012.
He said Turkey continues to refuse direct communication with the Nicosia Control Centre, while Turkish military aircraft and unmanned aircraft activity in the FIR has increased.
According to the union, controllers have to manage such situations during every shift, despite the absence of flight plans or two-way communication with the aircraft involved.
PASEEK said the shortage currently leaves the Control Centre with roughly 90 controllers against the 140 required, placing additional demands on staff.
The union has also warned that flight delays could begin from summer 2027 because of staffing shortages across several air traffic control units.
The Larnaca and Paphos control towers and the Approach Radar service were specifically cited as areas affected by personnel shortages. Georgiou said the Approach Radar service cannot currently operate around the clock because there are not enough staff.
State company proposal remains pending
PASEEK is calling for the state-owned air navigation company to finally become operational.
The union said the Cabinet approved the concept in 2013 and Parliament subsequently passed legislation in 2019. It said the preparatory work has already been completed, including the company's founding documents, articles of association, five-year business plan, employment arrangements and collective agreement.
Georgiou argued that a separate corporate structure would allow recruitment and training to take place more quickly and with more flexible employment arrangements.
The union estimates that between 40 and 60 additional air traffic controllers will be needed by 2030, alongside technological modernisation of the country's air traffic control system.
MPs call for action on aviation safety
DISY MP and former Defence Minister Charalambos Petridis said Parliament had been briefed on potential risks arising from violations of national and international airspace.
He said resolving the shortage of controllers should be treated as an immediate priority, while the proposed state company could provide greater flexibility in dealing with staffing and operational issues.
Petridis also pointed to the substantial increase in the number of flights in recent years, saying the additional workload placed on controllers must be taken into account.
AKEL MP Valentinos Fakontis condemned Turkish violations of the Republic's airspace and called for greater involvement from international aviation authorities.
He referred specifically to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), arguing that Cyprus' particular circumstances require close attention from both organisations.
Fakontis also pointed to the proximity of Larnaca Airport to Tymbou Airport as another factor that needs to be considered in assessing aviation safety.
DIKO MP Adamos Aspris said investment was needed both in technology and personnel, stressing the responsibility carried by air traffic controllers in protecting flight safety.
He also warned against creating an impression that aircraft entering the Cyprus FIR are operating in an uncertain or inadequately controlled environment, saying this could have consequences for Cyprus' public interest, tourism and economy.
The committee discussions also included diplomatic issues linked to Turkish activity in the region, with Ioannou calling for stronger action at EU level.
PASEEK, meanwhile, is urging Parliament to use its oversight powers to accelerate the establishment of the state-owned air navigation company and is seeking support from the President of the Republic for the project.
