Commercial air traffic between Israel and Cyprus began edging back to normal on Sunday, 1 February, as the first Tel Aviv-Paphos flights touched down at the island’s western gateway. The restart follows a 12-day suspension triggered by the flare-up between Israel and Iran that saw Israel close its airspace and carriers divert or cancel services across the Eastern Mediterranean.
Cypriot carrier Tus Air and two smaller Israeli operators operated the inaugural rotations, but the route remains far from full capacity. Budget heavyweight Ryanair—which normally runs up to three daily sectors in peak season—and Israel’s flag-carrier EL AL have yet to re-enter the market. Tourism officials told local media that seat supply is currently about 40 percent of the February 2025 level, underscoring lingering security concerns and the logistical challenge of repositioning aircraft and crews at short notice.
The Israel–Cyprus corridor is a linchpin for both leisure and corporate mobility. In 2025 Israelis accounted for more than 278,000 arrivals—around 8 percent of Cyprus’ total tourist inflow—while dozens of Cypriot firms rely on the short hop for project work, ship-management inspections and medical travel. Hoteliers in Paphos say winter occupancy fell by up to 25 percent during the air-space closure, and conference organisers are scrambling to re-confirm February events that were put on hold.
![Israel–Paphos air link cautiously restarts after 12-day Iran conflict shutdown]()
For travellers needing to verify visa requirements or secure documentation quickly, online facilitator VisaHQ can streamline the process. Its Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) provides up-to-date entry guidance for Israeli citizens and other nationalities, digital application tools, and concierge assistance—an invaluable resource as flight schedules shift and business teams race to reschedule meetings.
Hermes Airports, which runs both Paphos and Larnaca, has waived parking and turnaround charges for the first fortnight of resumed operations to accelerate the ramp-up. Immigration desks and security lanes at Paphos International were fully staffed from 05:00 on Sunday, but passenger throughput remained smooth, with average kerb-to-gate times under 20 minutes according to airport data.
Travel managers are advising business travellers to retain flexible tickets or maintain dual routings through Larnaca until larger airlines publish stable schedules. Analysts warn that any further escalation in the region could see rapid reversals. Nevertheless, Sunday’s landings are an early sign that the Eastern Mediterranean aviation network is beginning to absorb the shock, offering much-needed predictability for Cyprus-based companies and inbound investors.
Cypriot carrier Tus Air and two smaller Israeli operators operated the inaugural rotations, but the route remains far from full capacity. Budget heavyweight Ryanair—which normally runs up to three daily sectors in peak season—and Israel’s flag-carrier EL AL have yet to re-enter the market. Tourism officials told local media that seat supply is currently about 40 percent of the February 2025 level, underscoring lingering security concerns and the logistical challenge of repositioning aircraft and crews at short notice.
The Israel–Cyprus corridor is a linchpin for both leisure and corporate mobility. In 2025 Israelis accounted for more than 278,000 arrivals—around 8 percent of Cyprus’ total tourist inflow—while dozens of Cypriot firms rely on the short hop for project work, ship-management inspections and medical travel. Hoteliers in Paphos say winter occupancy fell by up to 25 percent during the air-space closure, and conference organisers are scrambling to re-confirm February events that were put on hold.
For travellers needing to verify visa requirements or secure documentation quickly, online facilitator VisaHQ can streamline the process. Its Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) provides up-to-date entry guidance for Israeli citizens and other nationalities, digital application tools, and concierge assistance—an invaluable resource as flight schedules shift and business teams race to reschedule meetings.
Hermes Airports, which runs both Paphos and Larnaca, has waived parking and turnaround charges for the first fortnight of resumed operations to accelerate the ramp-up. Immigration desks and security lanes at Paphos International were fully staffed from 05:00 on Sunday, but passenger throughput remained smooth, with average kerb-to-gate times under 20 minutes according to airport data.
Travel managers are advising business travellers to retain flexible tickets or maintain dual routings through Larnaca until larger airlines publish stable schedules. Analysts warn that any further escalation in the region could see rapid reversals. Nevertheless, Sunday’s landings are an early sign that the Eastern Mediterranean aviation network is beginning to absorb the shock, offering much-needed predictability for Cyprus-based companies and inbound investors.
