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Some travelers who have been in Cyprus or traveled to the island are concerned about looking at the map of the eastern Mediterranean, because of the distance between Lebanon and Israel.
The battle is barely 100 miles from the popular resort of Ayia Napa in Cyprus.
Britain has two Sovereign Bases on the island, with additional troops stationed there if called upon to help evacuate British nationals from Lebanon.
Larnaca Airport, the main gateway to Cyprus, was used as an overnight diversion point on October 1-2 for flights that were suddenly diverted due to the closure of Iraqi and Iranian airspace.
But airlines and holiday companies continue to use normal terms and conditions – with people who choose not to travel losing some or all of their money.
These are the main questions and answers.
What happened at the island’s airport?
In Larnaca, the main hub for Cyprus, only the cancellation of some flights to and from Tel Aviv and Beirut. British Airways has ended its Heathrow-Larnaca-Tel Aviv operation. But the connection with the two cities continues in El Al and Middle East Airlines, the national carrier for Israel and Lebanon.
Paphos, on the west side of the island, is operating as normal – except for the connection to Tel Aviv.
Ercan, the airport for the style “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, has only links to Turkey, which continues as usual.
Road links to and from the airport – and elsewhere in the country – are not without problems.
What are the warnings given by the UK government to people traveling to Cyprus?
Official travel advice for the island has not been revised since June 2024, when it was “reviewed for style and accuracy”.
An important concern is the northern part of Cyprus. The Foreign Office said: “If you enter the Republic of Cyprus through the north (such as through Ercan airport), the authorities will consider you an illegal entry. You can be fined for illegal entry; refused entry or exit from the Republic of Cyprus; prevented from crossing back to north of Cyprus.”
Under the heading “Regional risk” the only concern is the long-standing warning about travel to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which states itself: “The FCDO can only provide limited consular support if you visit areas in the uncontrolled north of the Republic of Cyprus.”
The Republic has strict special controls for people entering from the “TRNC”, including a limit of 40 cigarettes and one liter of spirits. Hand-rolled tobacco is prohibited.
What are other governments saying?
Official travel advisories issued by the governments of Ireland, Australia, Canada and the US do not address concerns about the conflict in the Middle East. The strongest warning came from Australia, which said: “Be very careful in Cyprus because of the active UN peacekeeping operation in the country.”
There must be an “overspill” from Lebanon to Cyprus? That seems to be very rare. Consider Syria, which has been in civil war since 2011; although the Mediterranean port of Latakia is only 70 miles from Cyprus, there is no danger to the island as a result of the tragic conflict.
Many countries, including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, border Ukraine – which Russia invaded on 24 February 2022. But the Foreign Office has not warned against visiting the country.
I am still concerned. Can I get a refund?
As the Foreign Office does not warn against travel to Cyprus, there is no prospect of canceling the trip with a full refund. Travel insurance won’t help either; The insurer will say that there is no reason not to go.
Any other ideas?
You can legally transfer your exact package holiday to someone else. Alternatively, the holiday company may offer you the opportunity to switch to a different destination; this season is relatively low, and there is also another capacity.
Unfortunately, if you have booked a “flight only” trip, the airline will apply its normal terms and conditions.
What about ferry links?
The summer-only car ferry between Limassol in Cyprus and Piraeus (the port for Athens) has been completed as planned for the season. Ferries run between Kyrenia in northern Cyprus to Tasucu in southern Turkey. Are they sailing as usual?
Would you like to go on holiday to Cyprus?
yes already. It is a beautiful, cultural, friendly and warm country that makes a great escape from the winter in the UK. But I would book a proper package holiday to get maximum consumer protection in the event of a problem.
