An overwhelming 98.9 per cent of passengers in July and 97.8 per cent in August were processed through security checks at Cyprus airports in less than ten minutes, the transport ministry said on Monday.
Additionally, passport control for EU, European Economic Area (EEA), UK, and Swiss citizens at departures reached 87.6 per cent in July and 90.8 per cent in August.
In response to recent media reports over Larnaca airport facing increasing complaints from passengers about long queues, the statement added that it closely monitors passenger processing times and remains committed to providing high-level service at Larnaca and Paphos airports.
Last week, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades acknowledged that certain inefficiencies were caused by understaffing, which Paphos airport’s planned expansion should resolve.
He added that his ministry regularly reviews IATA criteria while ministry staff present at the airport, as well as civil aviation personnel, are monitoring the situation.
Disy MP Prodromos Alambritis brought up the issue in parliament, while Hermes, the airport operator, responded by stating that their electronic monitoring system showed waiting times were mostly within the agreed limits – though at times, passport control could stretch up to 25 minutes, exceeding the ideal 15-minute wait.
The operator had also said it was in consultation with immigration services and the ministry of transport to find ways to streamline the processing of passengers.
The ministry on Monday reiterated that the airports are designed to ensure passenger wait times remain within acceptable limits set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards.
Specifically, in Larnaca, nearly 99 per cent of passengers in July and August passed through security in under 10 minutes, while passport control for EU, EEA, UK and Swiss citizens at departures exceeded 87 per cent during the same period.
The ministry, in collaboration with Hermes airports and the Cyprus police, is implementing a plan to separate passenger flows to speed up passport control for EU and EEA travellers during arrivals and departures.
Despite staffing challenges at security and baggage claim points, and the significant increase in passenger numbers, the statement said that “the ministry believes that ongoing measures will improve passenger service at the airports”.
