Newsroom
Passengers traveling through Cyprus’s main airports are likely to face two more years of long lines, crowded terminals, and makeshift boarding areas before major improvements take effect, according to Transport Minister Alexis Vafeadis.
In an interview on a podcast hosted by journalist Chrysanthos Tsouroullis, Vafeadis acknowledged that the congestion at Paphos and Larnaca airports has become a chronic problem. Travelers at Paphos, in particular, often find themselves carrying luggage across the tarmac and waiting in the heat under temporary tin shelters.
The minister said the situation stems from the airport operator’s failure to complete the second phase of long-planned upgrades. Under its contract, the company was required to expand facilities once annual passenger traffic exceeded a certain limit. While the airports were originally built to accommodate about seven million passengers a year, traffic has risen to roughly twelve million, overwhelming existing infrastructure.
The expansion, now scheduled for completion in 2027, is expected to resolve many of the capacity issues at both airports. Until then, the Ministry of Transport is reviewing flight scheduling and other operational measures in an effort to manage congestion during peak travel seasons.
Vafeadis indicated that these adjustments may provide some relief, but travelers should expect continued pressure on airport facilities until the upgrades are finished.
