Hermes Airports, operator of Larnaca and Paphos International, issued an unusual passenger advisory on 25 February 2026: arrive at the terminal at least three hours before scheduled take-off. The warning followed a sharp uptick in evacuation charters from neighbouring Middle-East conflict zones, which combined with conference-season demand to stretch security and immigration queues.
![Cyprus Airports Urge 3-Hour Pre-Departure Arrival as Evacuation Traffic Peaks]()
For anyone uncertain about whether the crisis traffic changes their visa, passport or transit-document requirements, the online service VisaHQ can run instant eligibility checks and even file applications for Cyprus and onward countries, saving time at the airport; more details are at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/
While the advisory is commonplace at major hubs such as Heathrow or Dubai, it is exceptional for Cyprus, where two hours has long been sufficient. Hermes said the temporary measure enables airlines to complete additional document checks for travellers transiting to high-risk destinations and gives ground handlers room to re-allocate scarce gates when military transports occupy stands. Corporate travel managers were quick to react. Several multinationals with shared-service centres in Nicosia have instructed staff to use earlier taxis and to pad meeting schedules. Tour operators re-timed transfer buses from Ayia Napa hotels, and at least one private-jet operator moved VIP departures to the less congested Paphos General Aviation apron. Security authorities have quietly doubled passport-control booths and installed extra e-gates, but insiders concede that throughput is “knife-edge” during the morning wave of London, Athens and Tel Aviv flights. Hermes is monitoring flows daily and will lift the 3-hour guideline once evacuation traffic subsides. Travellers connecting in Cyprus should therefore allow longer minimum connection times and, where possible, complete online or kiosk check-in to minimise queues at the terminal.
For anyone uncertain about whether the crisis traffic changes their visa, passport or transit-document requirements, the online service VisaHQ can run instant eligibility checks and even file applications for Cyprus and onward countries, saving time at the airport; more details are at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/
While the advisory is commonplace at major hubs such as Heathrow or Dubai, it is exceptional for Cyprus, where two hours has long been sufficient. Hermes said the temporary measure enables airlines to complete additional document checks for travellers transiting to high-risk destinations and gives ground handlers room to re-allocate scarce gates when military transports occupy stands. Corporate travel managers were quick to react. Several multinationals with shared-service centres in Nicosia have instructed staff to use earlier taxis and to pad meeting schedules. Tour operators re-timed transfer buses from Ayia Napa hotels, and at least one private-jet operator moved VIP departures to the less congested Paphos General Aviation apron. Security authorities have quietly doubled passport-control booths and installed extra e-gates, but insiders concede that throughput is “knife-edge” during the morning wave of London, Athens and Tel Aviv flights. Hermes is monitoring flows daily and will lift the 3-hour guideline once evacuation traffic subsides. Travellers connecting in Cyprus should therefore allow longer minimum connection times and, where possible, complete online or kiosk check-in to minimise queues at the terminal.
