Cyprus Airport Passenger Traffic Up 7.9% in 2026 Despite Regional Instability
Passenger traffic through Larnaca and Paphos airports rose by 7.9% in the first eight months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2024, according to Hermes Airports data. Despite facing a sharp decline in the spring linked to Middle Eastern instability, the two airports handled 8.82 million passengers from January to August 2026, surpassing 2024 figures but remaining 3.3% below the record-breaking levels of 2025.
The spring months showed notable drops, with March and April 2026 down 15.3% and 16.1% respectively compared to 2025, but traffic steadily recovered during the summer. By August, passenger numbers were just 1.5% below the previous year’s peak, indicating a strong rebound. Paphos airport particularly outperformed, registering 31.8% growth over 2025's figures, helping offset declines at Larnaca.
Economic research from Eurobank projects total tourist arrivals in 2026 will remain below the exceptional 2025 peak but above 2024 levels, suggesting a normalization rather than a structural decline in Cyprus tourism. Continued recovery depends heavily on regional stability and market expansion in Europe.
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