Cyprus is defying the traditional “off-season” slump, with Larnaca and Paphos airports reporting a substantial 16% increase in passenger traffic between November 2025 and January 2026. This growth, compared to the same period in 2024/2025, signals a successful shift toward establishing the island as a year-round destination.
Maria Kouroupi, Director of Aviation Development at Hermes Airports, attributed the surge to a coordinated “one-way street” strategy involving the state and tourism stakeholders. By securing long-term agreements with major airlines, Cyprus has managed to maintain high connectivity even during the cooler months.
New Markets and Fresh Destinations
The winter schedule has seen a significant expansion in reach, particularly from Larnaca, which now serves 54 destinations across 33 countries via 30 different airlines.
Winter 2025-2026 Travel Highlights:
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New Strategic Markets: Direct links established with Spain, Belgium, Slovakia, and North Macedonia.
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First-Time Winter Routes: Travelers can now access Barcelona, Brussels, Bratislava, Skopje, and Venice during the winter months.
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Paphos Expansion: Paphos Airport now hosts 8 airlines flying to 35 destinations, including new direct services to Düsseldorf and Haifa, along with the resumption of the Amman route.
Geopolitical Resilience: “Bridges of Peace”
Despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East, Kouroupi noted that there has been no apparent impact on air traffic to Cyprus at this stage. While regional instability can sometimes delay flights or require airlines to use Cyprus for refueling, the island’s infrastructure has proven its resilience.
“Even in turbulent times, our airports act as ‘bridges of peace,’ facilitating repatriation flights and emergency arrangements for those affected by conflict,” Kouroupi told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).
The €170 Million Expansion: Building for 2040
To accommodate this record growth—which saw Cyprus hit a total of 13.75 million passengers in 2025—Hermes Airports is currently executing a massive €170 million self-funded infrastructure upgrade.
| Airport | Expansion Project Scope | Timeline |
| Larnaca (LCA) | New wing, more boarding gates, extra baggage belts, and expanded retail space. | 30 Months (Started March 2025) |
| Paphos (PFO) | 30% increase in terminal capacity and a new northern parallel taxiway. | 27 Months (Started March 2025) |
The works are being carried out in a “fully active” environment to ensure that airport operations remain uninterrupted. Once finished, the upgrades will secure the island’s capacity needs well into the next decade.
The positive results of the last five years are credited to a “goal-oriented approach” where the state and private sector speak the same language in international tourism expos and airline negotiations. This unified front has allowed Cyprus to outpace many European peers in direct connectivity growth.