Exploring Cyprus: Multiple Airports, Countless Destinations

Cyprus, a Mediterranean island off the south coast of Turkey, is a popular holiday destination. It has several airports, including three main international airports: Larnaca, Paphos, and Ercan. Larnaca International Airport, located on the southern coast of Cyprus, is the country's largest and busiest airport, serving as the primary entry point for travellers from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Paphos International Airport, located on the western side of Cyprus, is the second-largest airport and caters primarily to European travellers. Ercan International Airport, the third active commercial airport, is located in the contested territory of Northern Cyprus and only Turkish aircraft can fly there. In addition to these international airports, Cyprus also has several military airfields, such as RAF Akrotiri and RAF Dhekelia, which are part of the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia under UK governance.

Cyprus has two major international airports: Larnaca and Paphos

Cyprus is a beautiful island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, attracting holidaymakers from across the globe. The island boasts two major international airports: Larnaca and Paphos. Both airports offer distinct advantages, catering to a diverse range of travellers.

Larnaca International Airport, situated on the southern coast of Cyprus, serves as the island's primary gateway. It is the largest airport in Cyprus and is strategically located near Limassol, the island's second-largest city. The airport is just 67 kilometres from Limassol, making it a convenient choice for those planning to explore Limassol and its surroundings. Larnaca Airport offers a seamless travel experience with its modern amenities, efficient immigration, and baggage claim procedures. It also features shops, restaurants, car rental services, and a business lounge.

On the other hand, Paphos International Airport, located on the western side of Cyprus, is the second major airport. It primarily serves European travellers, especially those from Western Europe. While slightly farther from Limassol than Larnaca, it still offers a relatively short travel time of around 50 minutes. Paphos Airport is known for its compact size, efficient operations, and essential services, including shops, restaurants, and car rental counters.

The availability of car rentals at both airports through services like Secrental.com further enhances the travel experience. Travellers can benefit from flexible drop-off locations, a wide range of vehicles, and 24/7 availability, making it convenient to explore the captivating island of Cyprus.

In addition to Larnaca and Paphos, Cyprus also has other airports, including Nicosia International Airport, Ercan International Airport, and RAF Akrotiri Airport. However, Larnaca and Paphos stand out as the two prominent international airports that cater to the majority of travellers visiting this Mediterranean paradise.

The largest airport in Cyprus is Larnaca International Airport

Cyprus is an island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, located off the south coast of Turkey. It is a popular tourist destination, especially for holidaymakers from Europe. The country has three main international airports, with a fourth now disused. The largest airport in Cyprus is Larnaca International Airport, located 4km (2.5 mi) southwest of Larnaca. It is the country's main international airport and the larger of the two commercial airports in the area controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. The other commercial airport is Paphos International Airport, located on the island's southwestern coast.

Larnaca International Airport was hastily built towards the end of 1974, following the invasion of Cyprus by Turkey, which forced the closure of Nicosia International Airport. The site had been previously used as an airfield in the 1930s and later as a military installation by British forces. Larnaca International opened on 8 February 1975, with limited infrastructure and a prefabricated set of buildings for departures and arrivals. The runway was initially too short for jet aircraft, but it has since been extended and can now handle intercontinental traffic. The airport currently serves domestic, regional, and international passenger and cargo services by over 50 airlines.

A €650 million upgrade of the Larnaca and Paphos airports was completed in 2006, with a new terminal building opening in November 2009. The new terminal has a capacity of 7.5 million passengers per year and features 16 jetways, 67 check-in counters, 8 self-check-in kiosks, 48 departure gates, and 2,450 parking spots. The airport can be reached by car, taxi, and public transport, and it offers car rental services.

Larnaca International Airport's location between Europe, Africa, Russia, and the Middle East makes it an ideal airline hub for traffic and flight operations between these regions. The airport has seen a steady increase in air traffic due to Cyprus' popularity as a tourist destination, with over 5 million passengers a year, double its original capacity. In 2019, the airport recorded a pre-coronavirus peak of 8.23 million passengers.

Nicosia International Airport is now a UN base and no longer handles flights

The Mediterranean island of Cyprus is a popular destination for tourists from Europe and beyond. The country has three main international airports: Larnaca Glafcos Clerides International Airport, Paphos International Airport, and Ercan International Airport. However, one other airport, Nicosia International Airport, is no longer operational and now serves a different purpose.

Nicosia International Airport was once Cyprus's primary international air hub. However, it ceased functioning as a commercial airport in 1974 due to the Turkish invasion of the island. The airport was left derelict and unused for many years. Today, it has been transformed into a United Nations (UN) base and no longer handles civilian flights.

The airport now serves as the headquarters of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. While rare UN fixed-wing flights still occasionally operate from the airport, it primarily functions as a heliport for active UN helicopters. The airport building remains intact, and even a derelict Air Cyprus Hawker-Siddeley Trident plane can be found on-site, although it has been gutted.

Access to the airport is highly restricted. It is located within the Cyprus Buffer Zone, and entry requires a pass for the UN base. Passes are only granted to individuals with a legitimate reason for being there, and tourists will not be granted access solely to visit the airport.

With Nicosia International Airport no longer handling flights, Larnaca International Airport has taken its place as the country's largest and busiest airport. Located in the southeast of the island, Larnaca serves as the primary entry point for travellers from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The airport offers modern facilities and a seamless travel experience, contributing to Cyprus's appeal as a holiday destination.

Ercan International Airport is the third active commercial airport in Cyprus

Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, is a popular holiday destination for tourists from Europe and beyond. The country has three main international airports: Larnaca Glafcos Clerides International Airport, Paphos International Airport, and Ercan International Airport.

Larnaca International Airport, located on the southern coast of Cyprus, is the country's largest and busiest airport. It serves as the primary entry point for travellers from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The airport offers modern facilities, including shops, restaurants, car rental services, and a business lounge. It is also known for its efficient immigration and baggage claim procedures.

Paphos International Airport, situated on the western side of Cyprus, is the second-largest airport in the country. It primarily caters to European travellers, especially those from Western Europe. Paphos Airport is a more compact facility compared to Larnaca, offering essential services such as shops, restaurants, and car rental counters. It is also known for its efficient passenger processing.

In addition to these three operational airports, there are several other airports and military airfields in Cyprus, including Nicosia International Airport, RAF Akrotiri, and Lakatamia Air Force Base. Cyprus' airports provide vital infrastructure for the country's tourism industry and contribute to its accessibility for visitors from around the world.

Cyprus is home to several military airfields, including RAF Akrotiri

Cyprus is a Mediterranean island located off the south coast of Turkey. It is a popular holiday destination, particularly for Europeans. The island has three main international airports: Larnaca Glafcos Clerides International Airport, Paphos International Airport, and Ercan International Airport. In addition to these, Cyprus is also home to several military airfields, including the Royal Air Force (RAF) base, RAF Akrotiri.

RAF Akrotiri is a large RAF military airbase located in the Western Sovereign Base Area, which is a British Overseas Territory. The base is administered as a Sovereign Base Area, along with Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The station commander at RAF Akrotiri also serves as the officer commanding the Western Sovereign Base Area and reports directly to the commander of British Forces Cyprus.

The construction of RAF Akrotiri began in the mid-1950s to relieve pressure on the main RAF station in the centre of the island, RAF Nicosia. It became operational on 1 July 1955. The base played a significant role during the Suez Crisis in 1956, housing fighter, photo reconnaissance, and ground attack aircraft. After the Suez Crisis, the focus shifted to combating the EOKA revolt and conducting training missions.

Over the years, RAF Akrotiri has been involved in various military operations and conflicts in the Middle East and beyond. It has served as a transit point for evacuations, a staging base for support aircraft, and a launchpad for reconnaissance and strike missions. The base also provides search and rescue support through its Griffin helicopters, working in collaboration with the Republic of Cyprus Police and National Guard Air Command.

RAF Akrotiri continues to be a vital strategic asset for the UK, supporting ongoing operations in the region and protecting the UK's interests. It serves as a forward mounting base for overseas operations in the Middle East and for fast-jet training. The base is also home to the Cyprus Operations Support Unit, which provides joint support to British Forces Cyprus.

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