Cyprus’ main gateway, Larnaca International Airport, endured another day of disruption on 22 December as nine arrivals from Tel Aviv and two from Haifa were cancelled after Israel kept its airspace partly closed for a second consecutive day. Israeli carriers Israir, Arkia and Air Haifa, along with Aegean and Cyprus Airways, pulled the plug on services citing security advice from Israel’s civil-aviation authority amid a tense ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
The cancellations wiped roughly 1,700 passenger seats off Larnaca’s Monday schedule and forced tour operators to scramble for hotel rooms on Cyprus’ east coast. Hermes Airports, the island’s operator, said it had activated its disruption-management protocol and was liaising with ground-handlers to re-book travellers on repatriation charters that continue to operate under special permits.
![Middle-East fallout: 11 Israel–Cyprus flights cancelled as Tel Aviv airspace stays shut]()
Travellers suddenly rerouted to Cyprus may also find themselves needing new or updated documentation; VisaHQ can fast-track Cyprus entry visas and other essential travel papers, even handling urgent passport renewals through its dedicated portal at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/. Having a single, reliable service available when airspace closures upend plans can save both time and stress for stranded passengers.
While Jordan and Lebanon reopened their skies overnight, Israeli airspace remains restricted to humanitarian and rescue flights. Cypriot officials say 32 diverted flights—carrying almost 2,500 passengers—have landed at Larnaca and Paphos since Friday, underscoring the island’s growing role as a regional hub when the Middle East crisis flares.
For multinational companies, the episode highlights the fragility of travel links between Cyprus and its largest inbound market. Mobility managers are advised to keep assignees on flexible tickets, monitor NOTAMs issued by Tel Aviv Ben Gurion and budget for last-minute road or sea transfers via Cyprus should air corridors close again during the holiday peak.
The cancellations wiped roughly 1,700 passenger seats off Larnaca’s Monday schedule and forced tour operators to scramble for hotel rooms on Cyprus’ east coast. Hermes Airports, the island’s operator, said it had activated its disruption-management protocol and was liaising with ground-handlers to re-book travellers on repatriation charters that continue to operate under special permits.
Travellers suddenly rerouted to Cyprus may also find themselves needing new or updated documentation; VisaHQ can fast-track Cyprus entry visas and other essential travel papers, even handling urgent passport renewals through its dedicated portal at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/. Having a single, reliable service available when airspace closures upend plans can save both time and stress for stranded passengers.
While Jordan and Lebanon reopened their skies overnight, Israeli airspace remains restricted to humanitarian and rescue flights. Cypriot officials say 32 diverted flights—carrying almost 2,500 passengers—have landed at Larnaca and Paphos since Friday, underscoring the island’s growing role as a regional hub when the Middle East crisis flares.
For multinational companies, the episode highlights the fragility of travel links between Cyprus and its largest inbound market. Mobility managers are advised to keep assignees on flexible tickets, monitor NOTAMs issued by Tel Aviv Ben Gurion and budget for last-minute road or sea transfers via Cyprus should air corridors close again during the holiday peak.
