Cyprus aviation department refutes reports of regional flight delays

The Cyprus Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) issued a formal statement on August 5, 2026, clarifying that the Republic of Cyprus is not responsible for flight delays in the European aviation network. This announcement was a direct response to reports published by the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom, which suggested that severe congestion in the Greek and Cypriot airspace was negatively impacting flight schedules.

The DCA acknowledged that the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly the Nicosia Flight Information Region (FIR), has experienced a significant increase in traffic volume this summer. This surge is largely attributed to the redirection of flight paths resulting from the ongoing Middle East crisis, with records showing as many as 37,000 flights daily across the region. However, authorities emphasized that this increased volume should not be confused with structural delays caused by local air traffic control protocols.

According to the DCA, performance data from Eurocontrol for 2026 identifies France and Greece as the primary contributors to en-route air traffic management delays, accounting for over 60% of such issues in the European network. The department reaffirmed that Cyprus remains outside the list of nations causing systemic delays and continues to manage its capacity effectively despite the regional pressures.