Cyprus' air connectivity is secured despite the revision of European state aid rules, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works said in a statement on Sunday.
On the occasion of the ongoing public debate on the revision of the European Guidelines on State aid to aviation, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works clarifies that the Republic of Cyprus is actively participating in the process and has submitted a documented position, with six specific suggestions. "Cyprus' air connectivity remains strong and the Republic of Cyprus is working in a timely and documented manner so that the new European framework continues to support the needs of an island member state, such as Cyprus," the Ministry said.
It is clarified that the incentives provided by the Republic of Cyprus, in cooperation with the airport operator, to the airlines "do not constitute state aid: they are provided on market terms and generate additional revenues to both the state and the managing company, constituting an investment that would be made by a private investor under the same conditions".
Therefore, the Ministry notes, "these incentives, which have supported the steady increase and improvement of the country's connectivity, are not affected by the revision of the European framework for state aid and there is no question of affecting the existing mechanisms that have contributed in recent years to strengthening the country's air connectivity".
The revision of the existing European framework for state aid in aviation, the Ministry says, is part of the European Commission's effort to update the relevant rules, taking into account the developments that have taken place in recent years in the aviation sector, including new environmental requirements and changes in the European aviation market.
The consultation concerns the rules with which member states can, under certain conditions, support airports and new air connections, he says, noting that, for Cyprus, "the issue is particularly important, as air connectivity is a key way to connect the country with the rest of Europe".
"The proposed European reform is not treated by Cyprus as a simple technocratic issue," he adds, noting that for an island member state, without a road or rail connection to the rest of Europe, air connectivity is a key infrastructure for citizens, tourism and the economy.
"The goal of the Republic of Cyprus is for the new European framework to take into account the real needs of island states and to keep the necessary tools available to support connectivity," it says.
Specifically, he says, the six proposals of Cyprus mean in practice that the country's airports are treated as infrastructure of territorial cohesion. "The European Commission explicitly recognises Cyprus as a 'remote area'. The Government asks for this to be reflected even more clearly – that our airports are an infrastructure of national cohesion, like the highways in other countries, he says. "The benefit: greater security that Larnaca and Paphos airports will be able to receive state support when there is a real need," he adds.
In addition, Cyprus suggests maintaining the incentives for new routes for island states in a targeted way – for winter routes and for new tourism markets, it is stated, noting that the benefit will be more off-season flights, diversification of tourist flow, less dependence on specific markets.
The third proposal concerns "fair treatment for the size of our country", the Ministry notes, stating that an airport of nine million passengers in a country of nine hundred thousand inhabitants is not the same as an airport of a large European city and that the Government is asking for a criterion of "passengers per capita" to be added.
Cyprus is also asking for an extension of the transitional aid period until 2035 for island states, so that airports can adapt to the new green requirements (sustainable fuels, electricity), and an "explicit exemption" from artificial "proximity" with airports in other countries. It is noted that the new rules examine, among other things, whether neighbouring airports compete with each other. "For Cyprus, which does not have a road or rail connection with another member state, this does not make sense," it is noted, and it is stated that the benefit will be less bureaucracy and faster evaluation of support requests at the European level.
The Government is also calling for the subsidy of tickets for students, workers and professionals moving to and from Europe to be facilitated.
"Air connectivity is not a luxury for Cyprus. It is the functional equivalent of the road and rail networks that connect the other member states with the rest of Europe," says the competent Ministry, adding that the Republic of Cyprus submitted in a timely manner, within the deadline of the public consultation, set for June 11, 2026, a documented position with clear and practical suggestions.
The aim is a modern, fair and proportionate European framework, which protects the country's connectivity and recognizes the real needs of island states, the announcement concludes.
