Cyprus records decline in commercial flights during summer 2026

Cyprus experienced a consistent decline in commercial air traffic throughout the 2026 summer season, according to data released by Eurostat. In August 2026, the number of commercial flights in Cyprus fell by 3% compared to the same month in 2025, marking the second-largest decline among European Union member states. Only Austria recorded a steeper drop at 4.7%, followed by Germany at 2.4%.

This downward trend persisted throughout the entire summer, as Cyprus also recorded a 2.4% decrease in both June and July 2026 compared to the previous year. While the island faced a downturn in flight numbers, the broader European Union saw growth, with 708,980 commercial flights recorded in August 2026—a 2.3% increase over August 2025 and a 5.7% increase compared to 2024. Across the EU, 19 member states reported growth, led by Slovakia with a 37% surge, followed by Malta at 12.4% and Estonia at 8.3%.

These figures align with reports that Cyprus is currently seeing fewer tourist arrivals compared to the record-breaking levels of 2025, although officials note that the shortfall has been narrowing gradually as the summer progressed.