Pafos Live 1 September 2025
Swissport manages about 90% of the flights at Paphos Airport and at the moment there is a very serious issue of staff shortage, which has a direct impact on the service of flights and consequently on the image of our country as a tourist destination.
• The staff works at an exhausting pace with continuous overtime, which not only creates human pressure, but also increases errors, delays, inconvenience and safety of tourists.
• Delays in loading and unloading luggage as well as in servicing flights are a daily occurrence, causing strong complaints from guests.
• I have received complaints from the company's own staff, who express strong concern about working conditions.
At the same time, airlines have already expressed their complaints in writing to the central airport service offices, demonstrating the seriousness of the situation.
The problem is not with the Police; It is clearly a matter of the company that has the largest percentage of flights, as well as the state that has to impose solutions.
It is clear that:
1. Swissport must immediately employ additional staff, with better wages and working conditions, in order to ensure smooth operation.
2. The competent Ministries must immediately proceed with visa liberalization procedures for the employment of personnel from third countries, as the demand cannot be met by the existing workforce.
3. The expansion works of the airport in this peak period of tourism cause serious traffic chaos and aggravate the already difficult situation. Better coordination is needed so that the tourist image of Paphos is not affected.
The airport is the main gateway for thousands of tourists and the core of Paphos' economy. This situation cannot continue. We call on those responsible to immediately assume their responsibilities and provide substantial solutions, before the problem takes on uncontrollable dimensions.
Angelos Onisiforou
Deputy Mayor of Paphos
President of SICAP
