Owais Crawford
Nicosia International Airport, located 8.2 km west of the Cypriot capital city of Nicosia, has been abandoned for over 40 years. The airport was built in the 1930s as RAF Nicosia and initially served as a military airport. It was inaugurated in 1968 with the addition of a modern terminal building and became a major tourism and transport hub in the eastern Mediterranean, serving nearly 800,000 passengers by 1973. However, in 1974, the airport became a target of the Turkish army during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, leading to its closure. Today, the airport remains in a state of disrepair, with crumbling walls, broken windows, and nature taking over its terminals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Nicosia International Airport |
| Location | 8.2 km west of the Cypriot capital city of Nicosia in the Lakatamia suburb |
| Status | Abandoned |
| Year of Closure | 1974 |
| Reason for Closure | Turkish invasion of Cyprus |
| Current Use | Headquarters of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, recreational facilities for UN personnel |
| Reopening Status | Discussions have taken place but no progress has been made |
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What You'll Learn
Nicosia International Airport's history
Nicosia International Airport is a now-disused airport located 8.2 km west of the Cypriot capital city of Nicosia. It was originally built in the 1930s as a Royal Air Force station called RAF Nicosia and acted mainly as a military airport. The landing strip was constructed in 1939 by the Shell Company and Pierides & Michaelides Ltd, and services were provided by Misrair with four-engined DH.86 aircraft. During World War II, the airport's facilities and runway were extended by local contractors Stelios Joannou and George Paraskevaides.
In 1960, Cyprus gained its independence from the UK, and in 1968, the RAF withdrew their operations, leaving RAF Nicosia to become solely Nicosia International Airport. A new terminal designed by the West German company Dorsch und Gehrmann opened in 1968, with modern facilities and a multitude of restaurants and shops. The airport was built to become a major tourism and transport hub in the eastern Mediterranean, and by 1973, it had reportedly served nearly 800,000 passengers.
However, its bustling life was abruptly cut short in 1974 due to the war in Cyprus. On July 15, 1974, right-wing Greek nationalists overthrew the democratically elected president of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios. Nicosia Airport was briefly closed and then used to ferry troops from Greece to support the coup. On July 20, 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus, bombing the airport and launching a ground attack. The airport became the site of some of the heaviest fighting between Cypriot and Turkish forces, which led the United Nations Security Council to declare it a United Nations Protected Area (UNPA) during the conflict.
Commercial activity at the airport ceased following the Turkish invasion, and it has been abandoned ever since. The airport came under UN control and remains in the UN Buffer Zone, acting as an administrative base for the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. While discussions have taken place over the years regarding the possibility of reopening the airport, these have been unproductive, and the airport remains a symbol of the tumultuous history of Cyprus.
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The airport's current condition
Nicosia International Airport, located 8.2 km west of the Cypriot capital city of Nicosia, has been abandoned for over 40 years. The airport was built in the 1930s as RAF Nicosia when the island was under British control. It was the main airport on the island of Cyprus until the war in 1974.
The airport officially opened in 1968 with the addition of a modern terminal building with high-tech facilities and many restaurants and shops. By 1973, it had reportedly served nearly 800,000 passengers. However, its bustling life was abruptly cut short during the 1974 crisis when it became one of the main targets of the Turkish army and was heavily bombed, forcing its closure.
Today, the airport sits in a no-man's land between the northern and southern halves of Cyprus, in a United Nations-controlled buffer zone separating the Turkish Cypriot north from the Greek Cypriot south. The airport has continued to deteriorate over the years, with crumbling walls, broken windows, and boarded-up terminals. Vegetation and wildlife have taken over large parts of the terminal building, with swish seats in the departure lounges covered in pigeon droppings.
The airport is now mainly used as the headquarters of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, acting as a base for multinational troops serving in the UN buffer zone. While there have been discussions about the possibility of reopening the airport, this has never come to fruition. With three other functioning airports in Cyprus, it is unlikely that Nicosia International Airport will be needed even in the event of a political settlement on the island.
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The airport's future prospects
Nicosia International Airport, located 8.2 km west of the Cypriot capital city of Nicosia, has been abandoned for over 40 years. The airport was built in the 1930s as RAF Nicosia when the island was under British control. It was the main airport in Cyprus until 1974 when the Turkish invasion of the island led to its closure. Since then, the island has been divided, with a United Nations (UN)-patrolled buffer zone cutting across the island, separating the Turkish Cypriot north from the Greek Cypriot south.
The future of the airport remains uncertain, but there have been several proposals and plans put forward over the years. One proposal has been to reopen the airport under UN control as a goodwill measure to facilitate reunification negotiations between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. However, this idea has not gained much traction, with neither side seriously pursuing it. With three other airports in Cyprus capable of handling international traffic (Larnaca, Paphos, and Ercan), it is unlikely that Nicosia International Airport will be needed even if a political settlement is reached.
Another suggestion has been to repurpose the airport site for alternative uses. Michael Paraskos of the Cornaro Institute in Cyprus proposed converting the airport into a tax-free industrial zone designed to attract foreign high-tech firms and provide employment opportunities for Cypriots from both communities. This proposal aims to revitalise the dormant site and contribute to economic development in the region.
The airport has also gained attention from photographers and explorers intrigued by its abandoned state. The NIC platform, implemented by the Cyprus Institute in collaboration with the UNFICYP, offers a virtual tour of the main terminal, control tower, hangar, and planes remaining on the premises. Additionally, it features historical images and videos from the airport's operational days, providing a glimpse into its past vibrancy.
While the airport's future remains undecided, it continues to serve as a headquarters for the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus, playing a crucial role in maintaining stability and security on the island.
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The airport's role in the conflict
Nicosia International Airport was the main airport on the island of Cyprus until the war in 1974. The airport was built in the 1930s while the island of Cyprus was still under British control. It was known as RAF Nicosia and largely served as a military airport until after World War II.
In 1960, Cyprus gained independence from the UK. In 1968, the RAF withdrew their operations, leaving RAF Nicosia to become solely Nicosia International Airport. A new terminal designed by the West German company Dorsch und Gehrmann opened in 1968. The airport was officially inaugurated in 1968 with the addition of a modern terminal building with high-tech facilities and many restaurants and shops. It was built to become a major tourism and transport hub in the eastern Mediterranean. By 1973, it had reportedly served nearly 800,000 passengers.
In 1974, the government of Greece sponsored an attempt to overthrow the elected president of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios. Nicosia Airport was briefly closed by the coupists, then used to ferry troops from Greece to Cyprus to support the coup. On 20 July 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus, bombing the airport heavily. A ground attack of multiple battalions also ensued. The airport became one of the main targets of the Turkish army and commercial activity was terminated. A series of air raids were launched on the site, followed by heavy and deadly fighting in its vicinity between Turkish and Greek forces.
With the ceasefire signed on 16 August 1974, Nicosia International Airport became part of the United Nations-controlled Buffer Zone separating the two communities on the island. It has been inoperable as a fully functioning airport ever since. The airport site is now mainly used as the headquarters of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.
There have been discussions about the possibility of the airport being reopened under UN control as a goodwill measure. However, neither the Greek Cypriots nor the Turkish Cypriots have seriously pursued this option. In 2013, it was argued that the old Nicosia Airport would no longer be needed in the event of a political settlement on the island, as there are now three other functioning airports in Cyprus.
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The airport's replacement airports
Nicosia International Airport, located 8.2 km west of the Cypriot capital city of Nicosia, has been abandoned since 1974. The airport was the main target of the Turkish army during the 1974 crisis, which led to its closure. Since then, the island has been divided, with a United Nations (UN)-patrolled buffer zone cutting across the island, splitting the Turkish Cypriot north from the internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot south.
Following the closure of Nicosia International Airport, several other airports have been opened on the island to cater to the Cypriot population and the large number of tourists who visit Cyprus annually. These airports include Larnaca International Airport (opened in 1975), Ercan International Airport (opened in 2004), and Paphos International Airport (opened in 1983).
Ercan International Airport serves the population in the northern part of the island but is not recognised by the international community as it is located in territory that forms part of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. As a result, flights from Ercan International Airport are only permitted to Turkey.
With three airports capable of handling international traffic, it is unlikely that Nicosia International Airport will be needed even in the event of a political settlement on the island. However, there have been discussions and plans proposed for the reopening of Nicosia International Airport under UN control as a goodwill measure. Despite this, neither the Greek Cypriots nor the Turkish Cypriots have seriously pursued this option.
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Frequently asked questions
Nicosia International Airport is a now-disused airport located 8.2km west of the Cypriot capital city of Nicosia. It was the main airport for the island until it was abandoned in 1974 following a coup sponsored by Greece, which led to a Turkish invasion.
No, the airport has been shut for over 40 years. It is located in a United Nations-controlled buffer zone, which cannot be visited by travellers. The airport is now used as the headquarters of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.
Yes, there are three other functioning airports in Cyprus: Larnaca International Airport, Paphos International Airport, and Ercan International Airport.
