Cyprus’s Justice Minister was forced to convene emergency talks on Tuesday after mounting complaints over congestion at Larnaca Airport, with passengers reporting chaotic scenes not just inside the terminal but in the drop-off and pick-up zones outside it.
Costas Fytiris summoned officials from across the island’s transport and security apparatus to thrash out ways of relieving the bottleneck, which has worsened sharply during the peak summer travel season. The gridlock has left travellers queuing for lengthy periods both at check-in and at the roadside, where drivers attempting to collect or drop off passengers have added to the congestion.
The Ministry said the meeting had focused on shoring up coordination between the various bodies responsible for the airport’s operation — an acknowledgment, critics may note, that the current arrangement has struggled to cope with the surge in demand driving Cyprus’s booming tourism season.
Mr Fytiris called for procedures to be kept under constant review, insisting that problems needed to be identified and resolved swiftly if the airport was to function smoothly. Whether Tuesday’s talks produce anything beyond warm words remains to be seen; for now, passengers arriving at Cyprus’s busiest airport are advised to allow extra time.
