Secret Service cancels all Israeli Flights to Paphos

According to the Jerusalem Post on Sunday, El Al, Arkia and IsraAir had been instructed by the Israel’s security agency (Shin Bet) not to fly to Paphos “due to security reasons that cannot be made public”.

Deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou had told the CyBC the Republic’s authorities had been “aware of the development” over the past few days, and that flights to and from Larnaca airport had been continuing as normal.

However, the civil aviation department on Monday morning denied that any safety issue had arisen at Paphos airport.

“Paphos airport is operating normally despite a technical problem which recently arose,” it said, adding that the problem in question “concerned radio navigation” and had no impact on flight safety.

The Cyprus Mail attempted to contact the government, the transport ministry, and the civil aviation department for clarification, but received no answer.

The Israeli embassy in Nicosia had told the Cyprus News Agency that in light of “various security issues”, the decision had been taken to temporarily operate Israeli airline flights to and from Cyprus out of Larnaca.

“The situation will continue to be closely monitored and assessed in full cooperation with local authorities,” the embassy statement added.

Passengers who were due to land in Paphos reported their flights were cancelled or diverted, according to the Jerusalem Post, although passengers had not been instructed to avoid making their way to Paphos independently after landing.

Paphos is the smallest of the island’s two airports and abuts a military base slated for an upgrade by the US. According to its winter flight schedule, there are up to 10 flights a week from Tel Aviv and seven from Haifa.

Source: Cyprus Mail