A gap in Cyprus’ route map will close next month after Aegean Airlines won a €4.7 million Public Service Obligation (PSO) tender to operate direct flights between Larnaca and Brussels. The FastForward news portal confirmed the award on 11 November, noting that the service will start in December—just weeks before Cyprus assumes the rotating Presidency of the EU Council on 1 January 2026.
Re-establishing the link was a strategic priority for the Presidency Secretariat, which expects a surge in officials, lobbyists and journalists commuting between Belgian and Cypriot capitals. Under the PSO contract, Aegean must maintain at least three weekly rotations and cap economy-class fares at competitively benchmarked levels, giving corporate travel managers price certainty during a period when demand typically pushes up rates.
![Direct Larnaca–Brussels Flights Restored Ahead of Cyprus’ EU Council Presidency]()
For businesses headquartered in Brussels or with EU-affairs teams, the route offers a same-day round-trip option that eliminates time-consuming connections via Athens, Vienna or Frankfurt. Relocation-consultancy firms also see upside: easier access to the EU’s administrative centre could boost Cyprus’ attractiveness for regional head-offices that need frequent regulatory engagement in Brussels.
The deal underscores Cyprus’ willingness to deploy PSO subsidies to secure strategic connectivity—an instrument the government may use again in 2026 when it plans to launch Schengen-area domestic routes from Paphos. Airlines interested in future tenders should watch for draft concession documents expected in Q2 2026.
Airport operator Hermes is rushing minor terminal upgrades, including fast-track lanes for EU Presidency badge-holders and expanded VIP lounges. Travel-risk teams should brief staff that the tight timeline may mean teething issues during the first weeks of operation, but overall disruption risk is low given Aegean’s existing Cyprus base.
Re-establishing the link was a strategic priority for the Presidency Secretariat, which expects a surge in officials, lobbyists and journalists commuting between Belgian and Cypriot capitals. Under the PSO contract, Aegean must maintain at least three weekly rotations and cap economy-class fares at competitively benchmarked levels, giving corporate travel managers price certainty during a period when demand typically pushes up rates.
For businesses headquartered in Brussels or with EU-affairs teams, the route offers a same-day round-trip option that eliminates time-consuming connections via Athens, Vienna or Frankfurt. Relocation-consultancy firms also see upside: easier access to the EU’s administrative centre could boost Cyprus’ attractiveness for regional head-offices that need frequent regulatory engagement in Brussels.
The deal underscores Cyprus’ willingness to deploy PSO subsidies to secure strategic connectivity—an instrument the government may use again in 2026 when it plans to launch Schengen-area domestic routes from Paphos. Airlines interested in future tenders should watch for draft concession documents expected in Q2 2026.
Airport operator Hermes is rushing minor terminal upgrades, including fast-track lanes for EU Presidency badge-holders and expanded VIP lounges. Travel-risk teams should brief staff that the tight timeline may mean teething issues during the first weeks of operation, but overall disruption risk is low given Aegean’s existing Cyprus base.
