Extensive construction is underway at Larnaca and Paphos airports — Cyprus’s key air transport hubs. The project, which began in spring 2025, marks the second phase of the national airport modernization program. Its goal is to create larger, more advanced, and more comfortable airports that meet international standards.
The entire renovation, fully financed by Hermes Airports, is valued at €170 million. Completion is scheduled for April 2027 in Paphos and September 2027 in Larnaca. Once completed, Larnaca Airport’s capacity will increase to 12.4 million passengers per year, while Paphos will handle up to 5 million, supporting record tourism levels expected by 2028.
A New Chapter for Cyprus Aviation
Both airports have long required upgrades. Passenger traffic has surged to nearly 10 million annually, pushing existing infrastructure to its limits. Since March 2025, construction has been in full swing: new terminals are being built, arrival and departure zones expanded, and additional security checkpoints and baggage belts installed.
In Larnaca, the project area covers 20,000 m². Once completed, the airport will feature a new integrated departures and arrivals area, expanded commercial spaces, more aircraft parking positions, and modern passport and security control facilities.
In Paphos, work focuses on increasing terminal capacity by 30%, which will enhance passenger service and reduce waiting times. The southern taxiway will also be extended to boost operational flexibility, particularly during peak summer months.
Winter Construction Acceleration
According to project technical director Marios Eftychiou, the winter months will be the most productive construction period since passenger numbers are lower, allowing work to progress without disrupting travelers. Eftychiou noted that part of the electromechanical works has already been completed and that construction is proceeding on schedule, aided by favorable weather.
Similarly, in Paphos, work is progressing smoothly. Meetings with contractors and airport authorities have finalized the winter schedule for taxiway expansion, ensuring no disruption to flight operations during the summer of 2026.
Hermes Airports: “Comfort and Efficiency Come First”
According to Maria Kouroupi, Director of Communications at Hermes Airports, the reconstruction is proceeding strictly according to plan. She emphasized that terminal expansion is only part of the broader modernization effort. Equally important is staff expansion — particularly in check-in, security, and control services — to ensure efficient operations as passenger volumes rise.
The company is also preparing to introduce self-service check-in and baggage drop-off zones, designed to reduce queues and speed up processing. A new pedestrian access zone in Larnaca will allow passengers to walk just 30 meters from aircraft to terminal, a feature especially valued by airlines operating frequent short-haul routes.
Public-Private Partnership and Financing
The project’s second phase became possible after a new agreement between the Government of Cyprus and Hermes Airports, signed in December 2024. The deal extends the airport concession by 18 months, includes a €30 million compensation package, and provides €20 million in additional funding through a state-backed loan.
This agreement settles all prior financial disputes between Hermes and the Republic of Cyprus, which had exceeded €430 million, including issues linked to the operation of the illegal Tymbou (Ercan) airport in the occupied north of the island.
Airports of the Future
Hermes Airports has managed Cyprus’s airports for nearly two decades, consistently demonstrating its ability to innovate and modernize. Following the upgrades, Larnaca and Paphos airports will become next-generation aviation hubs, combining comfort, safety, and sustainability.
Once completed, the modernization will strengthen Cyprus’s role as a major transportation hub in the Eastern Mediterranean, capable of efficiently serving increasing passenger flows from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.