Larnaca International Airport

Larnaca International Airport
source
Name	Larnaca International Airport
IATA	LCA
ICAO	LCLK
Owner	Republic of Cyprus
Operator	Hermes Airports
City-served	Larnaca
Location	Larnaca, Cyprus
Hub	*Cyprus Airways *Tus Airways *Cobalt Air (defunct)
Coordinates	34, 52, 44, N...
Website	https://www.hermesairports.com

Larnaca International Airport is the primary international gateway of the Republic of Cyprus and the larger of the two commercial airports operated by Hermes Airports. Located approximately 4 kilometres southwest of the city centre of Larnaca, it replaced the now-defunct Nicosia International Airport as the island's main airport following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. The facility serves as a major hub for leisure and business travel to the Eastern Mediterranean, handling the majority of the country's passenger traffic and functioning as a base for Cyprus Airways and Tus Airways.

History

The airport's origins trace to a Royal Air Force station known as RAF Larnaca, established during the British colonial period. Following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the closure of Nicosia International Airport, a new civilian facility was rapidly developed on the site of the former military airfield to serve as the nation's main air gateway. The first passenger terminal opened in 1975, with subsequent expansions to accommodate growing traffic. A pivotal moment in its development was the accession of Cyprus to the European Union in 2004, which spurred further modernization. In 2006, the operation of the airport was transferred under a Build–operate–transfer concession to the Hermes Airports consortium, leading to the construction of a new, state-of-the-art terminal that opened in 2009.

Facilities

The airport features a single, modern passenger terminal designed by the French architectural firm Aéroports de Paris Ingenierie. The terminal is divided into two concourses and includes extensive retail and dining areas operated by companies like Lagardère Travel Retail. It is equipped with 16 boarding gates, of which 8 are equipped with aerobridges. The airfield has a single primary runway, 04/22, which is 2,994 metres long and capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A330. Other key infrastructure includes a large apron, a dedicated cargo terminal operated by Swissport, and extensive maintenance facilities used by Cyprus Airways and other carriers.

Airlines and destinations

Larnaca International Airport serves as a focus city for numerous European carriers and connects Cyprus to over 100 destinations worldwide. Major scheduled carriers include Aegean Airlines, Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet, and British Airways, providing extensive links to Greece, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Israel. It is a crucial hub for Cyprus Airways, which operates a network to European capitals and regional destinations. Seasonal charter flights, particularly from Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, significantly increase during the summer months. The airport also handles significant cargo traffic operated by airlines like FedEx Express and Turkish Cargo.

Statistics

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport consistently handled over 8 million passengers annually, making it one of the busiest airports in the Eastern Mediterranean region. In 2019, it recorded approximately 8.2 million passengers, a figure that has steadily recovered post-pandemic. The United Kingdom typically constitutes the largest single country market, followed by Greece, Russia, and Germany. In terms of aircraft movements, the airport manages over 60,000 take-offs and landings per year. Freight traffic has also grown, facilitated by the airport's strategic location between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Ground transportation

The airport is well-connected to the city of Larnaca and other major urban centres. Kapnos Airport Shuttle operates direct shared shuttle services to Nicosia and Limassol. Public bus routes, operated by Zinonas, connect the terminal to Larnaca city centre and the popular coastal resort of Ayia Napa. Numerous car rental companies, including Europcar and Hertz, have desks in the arrivals hall. Taxis are available 24 hours a day outside the terminal, with regulated fares to major destinations. The A3 motorway provides a direct high-speed road link to Nicosia and the southern coast.

Accidents and incidents

The airport has maintained a strong safety record since becoming the island's primary facility. A notable early incident involved a Royal Air Force Hawker Siddeley Andover that overran the runway in 1975. In 1988, a Kuwait Airways Boeing 747 en route from Kuwait City to New York City made an emergency landing at Larnaca following a hijacking; the event was resolved without casualties. More recently, in 2016, a Ryanair Boeing 737 experienced a tyre burst upon landing, causing minor damage and a temporary runway closure. These incidents have been investigated by the Republic of Cyprus's Air Accident and Incident Investigation Board.

Category:Airports in Cyprus Category:Larnaca Category:Build–operate–transfer projects