A start-up website called CyBusy, launched in late September by frequent flyer Amit Meldassi, promises real-time predictions of how crowded Larnaca and Paphos airports will be and advises passengers exactly when to arrive. The algorithm uses published flight schedules to model passenger ‘waves’ and displays a colour-coded congestion forecast 72 hours ahead. On 19 October, airport operator Hermes Airports issued a statement cautioning travellers that the tool is unofficial and that processing times depend on dynamic factors — staffing levels at check-in, security and passport control — that CyBusy cannot measure. Relying on the site’s predictions “could lead passengers to miss their flights”, Hermes warned, reiterating the industry standard of arriving at least 2.5 hours before departure unless an airline gives other instructions. The spat highlights growing passenger appetite for granular travel-time data as Cyprus airports approach pre-pandemic traffic levels. Hermes processed 8.8 million passengers between January and August 2026 and admits queues spike during overlapping UK and Israel departures. The operator is rolling out additional e-gates but says only its own chatbot and live flight pages should guide arrival times. Corporate travel managers see potential in predictive-congestion apps to reduce unproductive dwell time, yet also note the liability risk if staff miss flights overseas assignments. Several multinational firms told the Cyprus Mail they will wait for Hermes to release an official API before integrating crowd-forecast functions into travel portals. Meanwhile, Meldassi says he is refining CyBusy with user-reported data and hopes to publish accuracy statistics by Christmas. Whether Hermes will eventually collaborate or seek legal remedies for brand confusion remains unclear, but the episode underlines the need for transparent, reliable data to smooth the passenger journey through Cyprus’ busy terminals.
Source: Philenews
