The Lufthansa Group has suspended all flights to and from Larnaca, Cyprus, with immediate effect until and including March 6, 2026. This decision affects all subsidiaries of the group, including Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Eurowings.
The reason for this short-notice measure is a reassessment of the security situation in the eastern Mediterranean. In addition to suspending takeoffs and landings, the airline has decided to completely avoid Cypriot airspace during this period, even for overflights to other destinations. According to the company, passengers whose flights are affected by the cancellations have the option of rebooking free of charge for a later date or receiving a full refund of their ticket price.
The heightened security measures are in response to an incident last Monday in which, according to official reports, two unidentified drones were intercepted over the British military base at Akrotiri in the south of the island. The base is considered a strategically important hub for operations in the Middle East. Military experts point out that the presence of unmanned aerial vehicles in close proximity to civilian air traffic routes poses a significant risk to operational safety. British forces in Cyprus have been on high alert since then, while local authorities investigate the origin of the drones.
The Lufthansa Group's suspension of flights comes at a time of general instability in the region. Other European airlines are closely monitoring the situation, but some are still maintaining flights to Larnaca and Paphos, albeit under stricter monitoring protocols. Industry analysts assume that Lufthansa is taking this preventative measure to eliminate any risk to crews and passengers, as identifying and intercepting drones in civil airspace poses a complex challenge for air traffic control. The Cypriot government, meanwhile, emphasized that civil airport operations are generally safe, but respects the operational decisions of private airlines.
For international air traffic, the closure of Cypriot airspace to the Lufthansa fleet means logistical adjustments. Many long-haul routes to Southeast Asia and the Middle East have to take significant detours, resulting in longer flight times and increased fuel consumption. Since Cyprus is a key hub in the Eastern Mediterranean, ongoing disruptions could affect the entire European flight schedule. The company announced that it will continuously reassess the situation and make a decision on resuming flights after March 6th at short notice, based on current intelligence and official recommendations.