A wave of operational disruptions across Europe on 8 January 2026 forced airlines to cancel more than 1,000 flights, including KLM’s KL 461 service from Amsterdam Schiphol to Paphos. Real-time data show the four-hour flight was pulled from the schedule less than 24 hours before departure, leaving holidaymakers and business travellers scrambling for alternatives.
According to passenger-rights firm AirHelp, the wider meltdown affected hubs in France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK and Spain after an IT outage at a major Eurocontrol data centre slowed slot allocations. While Cyprus’ main gateway at Larnaca escaped cancellations, Paphos Airport felt the pinch: its sole direct service to Amsterdam was grounded, and an onward codeshare leg to Tel Aviv was also axed.
Travellers holding EU-ticketed itineraries are entitled to rerouting or refunds under Regulation 261/2004 if the disruption was within the carrier’s control. KLM is offering free rebooking until 11 January and vouchers valid for a year. Local travel agents report that same-day seats on alternative carriers to Cyprus sold out within hours, pushing some passengers to route via Athens or Istanbul.
![Amsterdam–Paphos Flight Among Hundreds Canceled in Europe-Wide Disruption, Hitting Cypriot Travellers]()
Before rebooking, travellers should also double-check that any required visas or entry documents remain valid for their revised itineraries. VisaHQ offers a quick, online way to confirm Cyprus visa requirements, secure electronic authorisations and update passport details, helping passengers avoid additional last-minute hassles. For more information, see https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/.
Business-travel managers with staff heading to Cyprus this week should monitor updates from impacted airlines and advise employees to keep boarding passes and delay notifications for compensation claims. The incident highlights the ripple effect that continental-scale aviation glitches can have on peripheral leisure markets like Paphos, where limited flight frequency makes recovery options scarce.
Longer-term, Cyprus’ Transport Ministry says the event underscores the need for more diversified direct connectivity from secondary airports, a priority already flagged in its 2026-2030 National Aviation Strategy.
According to passenger-rights firm AirHelp, the wider meltdown affected hubs in France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK and Spain after an IT outage at a major Eurocontrol data centre slowed slot allocations. While Cyprus’ main gateway at Larnaca escaped cancellations, Paphos Airport felt the pinch: its sole direct service to Amsterdam was grounded, and an onward codeshare leg to Tel Aviv was also axed.
Travellers holding EU-ticketed itineraries are entitled to rerouting or refunds under Regulation 261/2004 if the disruption was within the carrier’s control. KLM is offering free rebooking until 11 January and vouchers valid for a year. Local travel agents report that same-day seats on alternative carriers to Cyprus sold out within hours, pushing some passengers to route via Athens or Istanbul.
Before rebooking, travellers should also double-check that any required visas or entry documents remain valid for their revised itineraries. VisaHQ offers a quick, online way to confirm Cyprus visa requirements, secure electronic authorisations and update passport details, helping passengers avoid additional last-minute hassles. For more information, see https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/.
Business-travel managers with staff heading to Cyprus this week should monitor updates from impacted airlines and advise employees to keep boarding passes and delay notifications for compensation claims. The incident highlights the ripple effect that continental-scale aviation glitches can have on peripheral leisure markets like Paphos, where limited flight frequency makes recovery options scarce.
Longer-term, Cyprus’ Transport Ministry says the event underscores the need for more diversified direct connectivity from secondary airports, a priority already flagged in its 2026-2030 National Aviation Strategy.
