Cyprus’ two international gateways—Larnaca and Paphos—were thrust into crisis-mode on Saturday, 14 February 2026, after Israel’s overnight strike on Iran and the subsequent Iranian response led airlines to shut down Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion airport and reroute traffic across the Eastern Mediterranean. Hermes Airports, the private consortium that operates both Cypriot hubs, confirmed that it had already approved multiple unscheduled landings and cancelled all remaining Israel services for the day.
Flight-tracking data showed at least eleven commercial jets requesting immediate diversion to Cypriot airspace in the early morning hours. By midday, apron capacity at Larnaca was approaching its limit; remote stands were brought into service and an overflow plan for Paphos was activated. Cyprus’ Civil Aviation Department coordinated with Eurocontrol and neighbouring FIRs to create rapid-clearance corridors, while ground-handling firms drafted in off-duty staff to cope with the surge.
![Cyprus Airports Placed on Emergency Stand-By as Israel-Iran Escalation Diverts Traffic]()
For business travellers the disruption is significant: Israel is one of Cyprus’ top five source markets and a key regional connection point for multinational firms. Travellers booked on east-bound itineraries through Tel Aviv were advised to contact airlines before proceeding to the airport; corporate travel managers have been urged to activate contingency routings via Athens or Istanbul, although capacity on those sectors is already tightening.
Cypriot authorities also convened an emergency security council to assess knock-on risks, including possible increases in unscheduled private-jet movements and humanitarian flights. Travel-insurance providers say diversion-related hotel and re-ticketing costs should be claimable under most corporate policies, but only if travellers retain boarding passes and carrier notifications.
With tensions in the Middle East unlikely to ease quickly, airlines may keep contingency timetables in place for several days. Business-critical travellers heading to or through Cyprus should monitor NOTAMs and Hermes’ real-time updates, and allow additional time for security screening and immigration formalities at both airports.
Flight-tracking data showed at least eleven commercial jets requesting immediate diversion to Cypriot airspace in the early morning hours. By midday, apron capacity at Larnaca was approaching its limit; remote stands were brought into service and an overflow plan for Paphos was activated. Cyprus’ Civil Aviation Department coordinated with Eurocontrol and neighbouring FIRs to create rapid-clearance corridors, while ground-handling firms drafted in off-duty staff to cope with the surge.
For business travellers the disruption is significant: Israel is one of Cyprus’ top five source markets and a key regional connection point for multinational firms. Travellers booked on east-bound itineraries through Tel Aviv were advised to contact airlines before proceeding to the airport; corporate travel managers have been urged to activate contingency routings via Athens or Istanbul, although capacity on those sectors is already tightening.
Cypriot authorities also convened an emergency security council to assess knock-on risks, including possible increases in unscheduled private-jet movements and humanitarian flights. Travel-insurance providers say diversion-related hotel and re-ticketing costs should be claimable under most corporate policies, but only if travellers retain boarding passes and carrier notifications.
With tensions in the Middle East unlikely to ease quickly, airlines may keep contingency timetables in place for several days. Business-critical travellers heading to or through Cyprus should monitor NOTAMs and Hermes’ real-time updates, and allow additional time for security screening and immigration formalities at both airports.
Source: In-Cyprus
