In anticipation of Cyprus' Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which officially begins on 1 January 2026, the government has ensured the launch of direct flights between Larnaca and Brussels.
The new route will operate for one year and is designed to simplify flights between the island and the center of European politics. This decision was the result of a Public Service Obligation (PSO) tender launched by the Cypriot authorities with the support of the EU Council Secretariat and the European Commission. The main goal of the project is to provide stable transport links for delegations, diplomats, journalists and experts who will take part in events during the Cyprus Chairmanship.
The tender closed on October 30, with the only offer coming from Aegean Airlines, which was eventually selected as the route operator. The first flights are scheduled for December 2025, that is, a month before the start of the Cyprus Chairmanship.
According to the preliminary schedule, flights will operate several times a week, ensuring regular service between Larnaca and Brussels throughout the period from December 2025 to November 2026.
Representatives of the Secretariat of the Cyprus Presidency noted that the emergence of direct flights will not only greatly facilitate the organization of visits, but will also increase the country’s status as an active and accessible participant in European processes.
During Cyprus' Presidency of the Council of the EU, the island will host some 260 informal meetings and conferences, including ministerial and senior level meetings. As part of these events, approximately 28,000 participants and guests are expected to visit the country, including European ministers, diplomats, experts and media representatives.
One of the key events will be the informal summit of EU heads of state and government, which will take place in April 2026. In addition, Cyprus will host meetings on transport, energy, digital development and sustainable growth - topics that are priorities for the European Union and Cyprus itself.
The initiative to launch direct flights was one of the priority projects of Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raunu and Minister of Transport Alexis Vafiades. The country's authorities held active negotiations with partners in Brussels to ensure logistical readiness for the large-scale chairmanship period.
In addition to practical benefits for official delegations, the new route between Larnaca and Brussels also has tourism value. Direct flights will open up additional travel opportunities, strengthen economic ties with Belgium and simplify access to Cyprus for European citizens.
The upcoming presidency will be the second in the country's history - Cyprus first chaired the EU Council in 2012. Then the island demonstrated its ability to effectively coordinate European processes and put forward initiatives in the fields of energy, finance and migration. Now Cyprus is once again ready to show itself as an active member of the European Union, capable of uniting member states around key challenges - from the green transition to digital transformation.
Source: in-cyprus.philenews.com
