Cyprus-based business travellers have been warned to brace for widespread disruption on Thursday, 12 February, when a three-hour general strike is scheduled to halt operations at Larnaca and Paphos international airports from 11:00-14:00. Airport operator Hermes Airports confirmed that at least 53 arrivals and departures have already been removed from the timetable, affecting an estimated 15,000 passengers. Cancellations include Qatar Airways’ Doha service, Jazeera Airways’ Kuwait rotation and Emirates’ Dubai-Larnaca-Malta link, while dozens of European and regional flights face knock-on delays. (in-cyprus.philenews.com)
The stoppage is part of a wider industrial action across the island’s public and private sectors over the cost-of-living allowance (COLA). Ground-handling companies have agreed to place additional staff on duty once the walk-out ends, but airlines are still re-sequencing crew duty times and slot allocations, meaning residual delays could persist into Thursday evening.
![Thursday General Strike to Disrupt 50+ Flights at Larnaca and Paphos]()
Corporate mobility managers are being urged to contact travellers proactively and explore re-routing via Athens, Istanbul or Tel Aviv (subject to security constraints) for time-sensitive itineraries. Travellers who cannot avoid the affected window should arrive early, travel with carry-on baggage where possible and monitor Hermes’ live updates.
For travellers needing to adjust plans quickly—especially those now considering alternate routings through Athens, Istanbul or Tel Aviv—VisaHQ’s Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) can expedite any additional visas or transit permits required. The platform provides real-time entry guidance and streamlined online applications, ensuring business trips stay on track despite the disruption.
While Cyprus has seen several sector-specific strikes in the past year, this is the first island-wide stoppage to hit airports since 2023. The episode underscores ongoing labour-cost pressures in the Cypriot economy and the vulnerability of the island’s connectivity—critical for export-oriented ICT, shipping-services and professional-services firms that rely on same-day European hops.
The stoppage is part of a wider industrial action across the island’s public and private sectors over the cost-of-living allowance (COLA). Ground-handling companies have agreed to place additional staff on duty once the walk-out ends, but airlines are still re-sequencing crew duty times and slot allocations, meaning residual delays could persist into Thursday evening.
Corporate mobility managers are being urged to contact travellers proactively and explore re-routing via Athens, Istanbul or Tel Aviv (subject to security constraints) for time-sensitive itineraries. Travellers who cannot avoid the affected window should arrive early, travel with carry-on baggage where possible and monitor Hermes’ live updates.
For travellers needing to adjust plans quickly—especially those now considering alternate routings through Athens, Istanbul or Tel Aviv—VisaHQ’s Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) can expedite any additional visas or transit permits required. The platform provides real-time entry guidance and streamlined online applications, ensuring business trips stay on track despite the disruption.
While Cyprus has seen several sector-specific strikes in the past year, this is the first island-wide stoppage to hit airports since 2023. The episode underscores ongoing labour-cost pressures in the Cypriot economy and the vulnerability of the island’s connectivity—critical for export-oriented ICT, shipping-services and professional-services firms that rely on same-day European hops.
