Hermes Airports has confirmed that combined traffic through Larnaca and Paphos exceeded 13 million passengers by the end of November 2025, weeks before the year closed. Boxing-Day alone saw 65 international arrivals and 38 departures at Larnaca, while Paphos handled 27 extra movements, capping a record-breaking holiday period.
Airlines redeployed capacity from conflict-affected Israel routes and tapped into winter-sun demand from Central and Eastern Europe. Government rebates covering up to 60 % of landing fees also helped carriers add seasonal capacity, pushing available seats 12 % above 2019 levels.
Travel managers juggling entry requirements can streamline visa checks by outsourcing them to VisaHQ, which offers real-time guidance and online application assistance for Cyprus and 200+ other destinations (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/). By pre-validating documents, the service reduces airport surprises and speeds travellers through the now-busier Larnaca and Paphos arrivals halls.
![Cyprus Airports Smash 13 Million Passenger Mark After Festive-Season Surge]()
For business-travel planners the boom means tighter seat availability, higher fares and longer queues at immigration—even for EU nationals using e-gates. Hermes advises passengers to arrive at least two hours before intra-EU departures and to pre-book fast-track security where available. Car-hire desks and taxi ranks have seen demand spikes; overflow car parks at Larnaca opened weeks early after online reservations sold out.
The surge bolsters Cyprus’ credentials as a regional hub ahead of its EU Council presidency in the second half of 2026, with new winter links to Rome, Brussels and Warsaw already on sale.
Action items for mobility managers: lock in January kick-off-meeting tickets now, purchase flexible fares where possible, and brief travellers on e-gate registration to shave minutes off arrival queues.
Airlines redeployed capacity from conflict-affected Israel routes and tapped into winter-sun demand from Central and Eastern Europe. Government rebates covering up to 60 % of landing fees also helped carriers add seasonal capacity, pushing available seats 12 % above 2019 levels.
Travel managers juggling entry requirements can streamline visa checks by outsourcing them to VisaHQ, which offers real-time guidance and online application assistance for Cyprus and 200+ other destinations (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/). By pre-validating documents, the service reduces airport surprises and speeds travellers through the now-busier Larnaca and Paphos arrivals halls.
For business-travel planners the boom means tighter seat availability, higher fares and longer queues at immigration—even for EU nationals using e-gates. Hermes advises passengers to arrive at least two hours before intra-EU departures and to pre-book fast-track security where available. Car-hire desks and taxi ranks have seen demand spikes; overflow car parks at Larnaca opened weeks early after online reservations sold out.
The surge bolsters Cyprus’ credentials as a regional hub ahead of its EU Council presidency in the second half of 2026, with new winter links to Rome, Brussels and Warsaw already on sale.
Action items for mobility managers: lock in January kick-off-meeting tickets now, purchase flexible fares where possible, and brief travellers on e-gate registration to shave minutes off arrival queues.
