Cyprus has sealed a one-year public-service obligation (PSO) contract with Aegean Airlines that will guarantee direct connectivity between Larnaca International Airport and Brussels from 1 December 2025 until 30 November 2026. The agreement—signed on 28 November by Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades, senior civil-aviation officials and Aegean representatives—sets a ceiling fare of €400 one-way in fully-flexible economy, inclusive of taxes, a 23 kg bag and an onboard meal.
Under the flight schedule, Aegean will operate three weekly rotations in December, ramping up to five per week during the first half of 2026 when more than 15,000 Cypriot and EU bureaucrats, lobbyists and journalists are expected to shuttle back and forth for Presidency meetings. Frequencies then scale back to three per week in July and two per week from August through November, mirroring seasonal demand.
![Cyprus signs Public-Service contract for year-round Larnaca–Brussels flights ahead of its 2026 EU Presidency]()
For business-mobility managers the deal ends years of frustration over the lack of non-stop service to the EU capital after Cyprus’ former flag-carrier collapsed in 2015. Travellers had been forced to change planes in Athens, Vienna or London, adding as much as four hours to door-to-door journey times. The PSO model—already used by small EU states such as Malta and Luxembourg—ensures affordable fares while de-risking the route for the airline.
The Ministry of Transport stressed that the link is critical for government officials, corporate lobbyists, and financial-services executives who need predictable access to EU institutions during the six-month Presidency. Chambers of commerce welcomed the ‘reliable pipeline’ to decision-making centres, noting that it will also help attract conferences and high-value MICE traffic.
Aegean plans to deploy 174-seat Airbus A320neos equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi and a 15-tonne belly-cargo capacity, benefiting exporters of halloumi cheese and pharmaceuticals. Ticket sales opened immediately after the signing, with the first flight already 60 % full according to airline data, underscoring pent-up demand for the route.
Under the flight schedule, Aegean will operate three weekly rotations in December, ramping up to five per week during the first half of 2026 when more than 15,000 Cypriot and EU bureaucrats, lobbyists and journalists are expected to shuttle back and forth for Presidency meetings. Frequencies then scale back to three per week in July and two per week from August through November, mirroring seasonal demand.
For business-mobility managers the deal ends years of frustration over the lack of non-stop service to the EU capital after Cyprus’ former flag-carrier collapsed in 2015. Travellers had been forced to change planes in Athens, Vienna or London, adding as much as four hours to door-to-door journey times. The PSO model—already used by small EU states such as Malta and Luxembourg—ensures affordable fares while de-risking the route for the airline.
The Ministry of Transport stressed that the link is critical for government officials, corporate lobbyists, and financial-services executives who need predictable access to EU institutions during the six-month Presidency. Chambers of commerce welcomed the ‘reliable pipeline’ to decision-making centres, noting that it will also help attract conferences and high-value MICE traffic.
Aegean plans to deploy 174-seat Airbus A320neos equipped with high-speed Wi-Fi and a 15-tonne belly-cargo capacity, benefiting exporters of halloumi cheese and pharmaceuticals. Ticket sales opened immediately after the signing, with the first flight already 60 % full according to airline data, underscoring pent-up demand for the route.
