Rising military tensions between the United States and Iran have prompted dozens of international airlines to avoid Iranian and Iraqi airspace, triggering a cascade of route changes announced on 27 January 2026. A Condé Nast Traveller Middle East update confirms that low-cost giant Wizz Air, along with several European legacy carriers, is now scheduling unscheduled fuel stops in Larnaca, Cyprus, on westbound services from the Gulf and South-Asia.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has issued a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin advising carriers to steer clear of the Tehran Flight Information Region at all altitudes. Because alternative flight paths over Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean add up to 90 minutes of flying time, narrow-body aircraft such as the Airbus A321neo often need an en-route refuelling point—making Larnaca (LCA) an attractive option thanks to 24-hour slots, competitive handling fees and permissive customs rules for transit crew.
Airport operator Hermes Airports expects up to 20 additional movements per day, a 12 % bump in February aviation-fuel sales and overnight hotel bookings for augmented flight crews. Ground-handling companies are recruiting temporary staff, while customs officials have reminded airlines that transit passengers without a Cyprus visa cannot leave the sterile zone—an important compliance point for travel managers booking tight connections onward to non-Schengen Europe.
![Middle East airspace detours turn Larnaca into a technical-fuel hub for long-haul flights]()
For travelers caught by these sudden itinerary changes, securing the correct transit or short-stay documentation need not be a scramble. VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) offers a streamlined, online pathway to check Cyprus entry rules, complete visa applications and arrange courier pickup of passports, giving corporate travel teams and individual passengers a quick safety net as Larnaca’s traffic swells.
For corporate mobility programmes the ripple effects are twofold: first, itineraries connecting via the Gulf may see longer block times and late arrivals into Europe’s morning bank, risking missed meetings and rail links. Second, Larnaca’s surge could strain apron capacity, increasing turnaround times even for existing scheduled flights. Companies should build extra slack into travel schedules and monitor fare volatility as airlines pass on higher fuel and handling costs.
If regional geopolitics stabilise quickly, the detour trend may fade. But with EASA’s bulletin valid until at least mid-February and US naval deployments ongoing, Cyprus’ unexpected role as a strategic tech-stop could persist well into the spring traffic season.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has issued a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin advising carriers to steer clear of the Tehran Flight Information Region at all altitudes. Because alternative flight paths over Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean add up to 90 minutes of flying time, narrow-body aircraft such as the Airbus A321neo often need an en-route refuelling point—making Larnaca (LCA) an attractive option thanks to 24-hour slots, competitive handling fees and permissive customs rules for transit crew.
Airport operator Hermes Airports expects up to 20 additional movements per day, a 12 % bump in February aviation-fuel sales and overnight hotel bookings for augmented flight crews. Ground-handling companies are recruiting temporary staff, while customs officials have reminded airlines that transit passengers without a Cyprus visa cannot leave the sterile zone—an important compliance point for travel managers booking tight connections onward to non-Schengen Europe.
For travelers caught by these sudden itinerary changes, securing the correct transit or short-stay documentation need not be a scramble. VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) offers a streamlined, online pathway to check Cyprus entry rules, complete visa applications and arrange courier pickup of passports, giving corporate travel teams and individual passengers a quick safety net as Larnaca’s traffic swells.
For corporate mobility programmes the ripple effects are twofold: first, itineraries connecting via the Gulf may see longer block times and late arrivals into Europe’s morning bank, risking missed meetings and rail links. Second, Larnaca’s surge could strain apron capacity, increasing turnaround times even for existing scheduled flights. Companies should build extra slack into travel schedules and monitor fare volatility as airlines pass on higher fuel and handling costs.
If regional geopolitics stabilise quickly, the detour trend may fade. But with EASA’s bulletin valid until at least mid-February and US naval deployments ongoing, Cyprus’ unexpected role as a strategic tech-stop could persist well into the spring traffic season.
