Martha Kehagias
Concerns over operations at Paphos International Airport have resurfaced as local officials and passengers criticize infrastructure limitations and employee working conditions, while the airport operator, Hermes Airports, defends its management practices.
Deputy Mayor of Paphos, Angelos Onisiforou, criticized the airport’s baggage handling capacity in a series of posts on social media. On September 1, Onisiforou wrote that the airport, serving up to 80 flights daily, is operating with "one and a half baggage belts," resulting in “unbearable suffering for passengers and staff” and posing safety risks. He criticized Hermes Airports for prioritizing revenue over infrastructure maintenance and called for immediate repairs and additional belts.
“Citizens and visitors are not numbers. They are people with rights,” Onisiforou said, urging the company to take responsibility.
Hermes Airports responded, emphasizing that Paphos Airport currently has three belts, two of which are used operationally following recent construction work. The company said the belts are maintained regularly and that staffing shortages at ground handling companies, primarily Swissport, which manages 85% of ground services, are the main cause of delays. Hermes Airports also noted that Phase II works, which began in March 2025, include the addition of further baggage belts.
“Problems arise due to understaffing at Swissport, which we are addressing with additional personnel from abroad,” a Hermes spokesperson said. The company added that it has received multiple international recognitions for personnel management and has been an active supporter of Paphos tourism campaigns.
Onisiforou rejected this explanation, emphasizing the day-to-day experiences of airport employees and travelers. “The reality experienced daily by employees and passengers at Paphos Airport does not match the image they present,” he wrote, noting that operational issues have been repeatedly reported.
The debate has drawn attention from the public. Passenger Panayiotis Christou described arriving at Paphos Airport on August 24, when only two of the three baggage belts were operational for seven incoming flights. “At least 1,000 people waited in the arrivals lounge for their baggage,” he said, recalling that one belt later broke down entirely.
In another post on September 2, Onisiforou criticized an upcoming Hermes Airports press event scheduled for September 8. He described it as a “performance” intended to present a curated image to journalists, without addressing operational realities or employee concerns.
Hermes Airports responded to this criticism as well, calling the claims “groundless” and asserting that the company maintains transparency with media and tourism partners.
