President Christodoulides voices support for air traffic controllers amidst Nicosia FIR violations

On August 30, 2026, President Nikos Christodoulides expressed his full support for Cyprus air traffic controllers following their concerns regarding ongoing violations of the Nicosia Flight Information Region (FIR). The President made these remarks after attending a memorial service for Ionas Nicolaou and Kyriakos Kolokasis in Geri.

Christodoulides praised the professionalism of the staff, noting that the controllers manage a large FIR and a vital area control centre, which carries significant responsibilities. He acknowledged that the team faces persistent challenges due to unauthorized incursions into the controlled airspace. The President emphasized that this issue is not merely a domestic concern for the Republic of Cyprus but a critical matter of international flight safety affecting numerous European citizens.

In response to these security concerns, the government is coordinating actions at the European Union level to address the situation. While the President did not specify the exact nature of these future measures, he indicated that the administration remains committed to working alongside the controllers to mitigate operational risks. The statement follows recent high-level attention to the sector, including the President's prior visit to the newly inaugurated Air Traffic Control Centre.