Cyprus has inked a one-year Public-Service Obligation (PSO) contract with Aegean Airlines that restores nonstop Larnaca–Brussels flights from 1 December 2025 through 30 November 2026. The deal guarantees at least three weekly rotations—ramping up to five during the island’s EU Council presidency—and caps fully-flexible economy fares at €400, inclusive of a 23-kg bag and inflight meal.
The agreement ends a decade of patchy connectivity that forced officials and business travellers to route through Athens, Vienna or London. Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades called the link “mission-critical” for presidency logistics, noting that the government will need to shuttle hundreds of delegates to EU institutions each week. The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce projects the route will inject at least €35 million into the economy via conferences, MICE traffic and export cargo.
![Year-Round Larnaca–Brussels Flights Secured Under Public-Service Contract Ahead of EU Presidency]()
Under the PSO framework—similar to schemes used by Malta and Luxembourg—Aegean will deploy 174-seat Airbus A320neos equipped with Ku-band Wi-Fi and 15 tonnes of belly capacity, a boon for time-sensitive perishables and pharma shipments. Ticket sales opened within hours of the signing; the inaugural flight is already 60 percent full, signalling pent-up demand among diplomats and lobbyists.
For corporates, the direct service offers shorter door-to-door times and more predictable travel budgets during a period when accommodation prices in Brussels typically spike. Mobility managers are advised to secure seat blocks early and to brief employees on the €400 fare ceiling, which applies only to fully flexible tickets.
Officials hinted that similar PSOs could underpin links to Frankfurt and Paris, further diversifying Cyprus’s post-pandemic aviation recovery. Observers will watch whether the Brussels route meets load-factor targets that would justify extension beyond 2026.
The agreement ends a decade of patchy connectivity that forced officials and business travellers to route through Athens, Vienna or London. Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades called the link “mission-critical” for presidency logistics, noting that the government will need to shuttle hundreds of delegates to EU institutions each week. The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce projects the route will inject at least €35 million into the economy via conferences, MICE traffic and export cargo.
Under the PSO framework—similar to schemes used by Malta and Luxembourg—Aegean will deploy 174-seat Airbus A320neos equipped with Ku-band Wi-Fi and 15 tonnes of belly capacity, a boon for time-sensitive perishables and pharma shipments. Ticket sales opened within hours of the signing; the inaugural flight is already 60 percent full, signalling pent-up demand among diplomats and lobbyists.
For corporates, the direct service offers shorter door-to-door times and more predictable travel budgets during a period when accommodation prices in Brussels typically spike. Mobility managers are advised to secure seat blocks early and to brief employees on the €400 fare ceiling, which applies only to fully flexible tickets.
Officials hinted that similar PSOs could underpin links to Frankfurt and Paris, further diversifying Cyprus’s post-pandemic aviation recovery. Observers will watch whether the Brussels route meets load-factor targets that would justify extension beyond 2026.
