Hermes Airports confirmed that **more than 50 arrivals and departures will be cancelled or rescheduled between 11:00 and 14:00 on Thursday, 5 February**, as Cyprus’ umbrella trade-union confederation stages a three-hour general strike. The walk-out will affect ground handlers, security screeners and air-traffic technicians, forcing airlines to trim schedules and consolidate passenger loads.
Flights operated by Jazeera Airways (Kuwait), Qatar Airways (Doha) and Emirates (Dubai–Larnaca–Malta) have already been cancelled, with an estimated 15,000 passengers impacted. Carriers have been instructed to notify customers directly and to provide rebooking or refund options under EU261 rules. Additional staff will be deployed immediately after the strike window to clear backlogs, but slot restrictions mean knock-on delays could persist into the evening peak.
![General strike to ground over 50 flights at Larnaca and Paphos airports]()
If travellers find themselves needing to adjust visas or secure last-minute documentation because of these unexpected schedule changes, VisaHQ’s Cyprus team can expedite applications online and advise on alternative entry options. Their platform (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) streamlines e-visa requests, passport renewals and work-permit submissions, helping passengers stay compliant even when government offices are temporarily closed.
Business-travel managers with same-day connections through Cyprus should monitor Hermes’ live-flight portal and consider rerouting via Athens or Istanbul. Employers may also wish to brief assignees on contingency plans, as public-sector offices—including the Civil Registry and District Immigration Units—will close during the stoppage, delaying in-person permit services.
The strike forms part of wider wage-indexation negotiations and could be repeated later in the quarter if talks stall. Mobility teams should therefore build additional buffer time into travel schedules for Q1 2026.
Flights operated by Jazeera Airways (Kuwait), Qatar Airways (Doha) and Emirates (Dubai–Larnaca–Malta) have already been cancelled, with an estimated 15,000 passengers impacted. Carriers have been instructed to notify customers directly and to provide rebooking or refund options under EU261 rules. Additional staff will be deployed immediately after the strike window to clear backlogs, but slot restrictions mean knock-on delays could persist into the evening peak.
If travellers find themselves needing to adjust visas or secure last-minute documentation because of these unexpected schedule changes, VisaHQ’s Cyprus team can expedite applications online and advise on alternative entry options. Their platform (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) streamlines e-visa requests, passport renewals and work-permit submissions, helping passengers stay compliant even when government offices are temporarily closed.
Business-travel managers with same-day connections through Cyprus should monitor Hermes’ live-flight portal and consider rerouting via Athens or Istanbul. Employers may also wish to brief assignees on contingency plans, as public-sector offices—including the Civil Registry and District Immigration Units—will close during the stoppage, delaying in-person permit services.
The strike forms part of wider wage-indexation negotiations and could be repeated later in the quarter if talks stall. Mobility teams should therefore build additional buffer time into travel schedules for Q1 2026.
