Cyprus’ airport operator, Hermes Airports, released fresh statistics on 12 June revealing that passenger numbers at Larnaca and Pafos surged by 12 % during the 2025-26 winter season compared with the previous year. The figures, unveiled in the company’s “Beyond Sea and Sun” report, confirm that the island’s push for year-round connectivity—targeting Northern European city-break travellers and diaspora visiting family—has gained traction. Between November 2025 and March 2026, eight airlines served 35 destinations out of Pafos alone, averaging 76 flights a week.
![Hermes Airports data show winter traffic to Cyprus up 12 % as off-season tourism strategy pays off]()
Prospective visitors eager to capitalise on these additional flights can simplify their travel preparations through VisaHQ, which provides fast, user-friendly visa and travel-document services for Cyprus at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/ The platform consolidates embassy requirements, timelines and application tracking in one place, helping spontaneous city-breakers and business travellers secure the right entry permits quickly and with minimal hassle.
Nearly two-fifths (38 %) of travellers were first-time visitors, an encouraging sign for hoteliers looking to diversify markets beyond the traditional summer beach crowd. Larnaca maintained its role as a hub, with 46 carriers flying to 154 airports worldwide. For multinational firms basing regional teams in Cyprus, the expanded winter schedule translates into more flexible assignment planning and lower travel costs: competition kept average fares 9 % below 2024 levels. Cargo volumes—important for high-tech manufacturers operating from the island’s free zones—also grew 7 %, signalling improved supply-chain resilience. Hermes credits joint marketing with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and incentive schemes that discount airport fees for airlines willing to operate outside peak season. The operator said similar incentives will apply for 2026-27, and negotiations are under way with two Gulf carriers for new winter routes to Doha and Riyadh, potentially enhancing long-haul connectivity.
Prospective visitors eager to capitalise on these additional flights can simplify their travel preparations through VisaHQ, which provides fast, user-friendly visa and travel-document services for Cyprus at https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/ The platform consolidates embassy requirements, timelines and application tracking in one place, helping spontaneous city-breakers and business travellers secure the right entry permits quickly and with minimal hassle.
Nearly two-fifths (38 %) of travellers were first-time visitors, an encouraging sign for hoteliers looking to diversify markets beyond the traditional summer beach crowd. Larnaca maintained its role as a hub, with 46 carriers flying to 154 airports worldwide. For multinational firms basing regional teams in Cyprus, the expanded winter schedule translates into more flexible assignment planning and lower travel costs: competition kept average fares 9 % below 2024 levels. Cargo volumes—important for high-tech manufacturers operating from the island’s free zones—also grew 7 %, signalling improved supply-chain resilience. Hermes credits joint marketing with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and incentive schemes that discount airport fees for airlines willing to operate outside peak season. The operator said similar incentives will apply for 2026-27, and negotiations are under way with two Gulf carriers for new winter routes to Doha and Riyadh, potentially enhancing long-haul connectivity.
