Filenews 31 October 2025 - by Angelos Nikolaou
A total of €43,329,678 has been paid by the Republic of Cyprus from 2019 until August 26, 2025 for the rental of aerial firefighting aircraft, according to an official answer by the Minister of Agriculture, Maria Panagiotou, to a parliamentary question by the MP of Famagusta of DISY, Giorgos Karoullas.
The Minister, in a response dated October 24, 2025, stated that until the end of 2018 the process of renting firefighting helicopters was done through the Ministry of Interior. As of January 1, 2019, this responsibility was transferred to the Department of Forests, which undertook the management and conclusion of contracts for the rental of both helicopters and firefighting aircraft.
The Minister informed that the total amount of €43.3 million. came from the budgets of the Department of Forests and concerns exclusively the coverage of aerial firefighting needs during the summer periods, when the risk of forest fires is increased.
It is worth noting that as of April 1, 2025, the command of the Flying Assets Unit was transferred from the Department of Forests to the Ministry of Defense, while the Unit was renamed "Air Firefighting Squadron". However, for the current year (2025), the expense for renting the aircraft is still covered by funds from the Department of Forests.
The Minister also clarified that as of January 1, 2026, the relevant expenditure will now be borne by the budget of the Ministry of Defence, in the context of the full undertaking of the operational and financial management of the Air Firefighting Squadron.
Ms. Panayiotou's answer comes at a time of increased concerns about the cost and effectiveness of aerial firefighting means, as in recent years Cyprus has been faced with a series of devastating forest fires, which have highlighted the need to strengthen prevention and immediate intervention mechanisms.
