Nicosia airports. Nicosia (airport) Nicosia International Airport

Nicosia is one of the few world capitals without its own airport. Rather, there is an airport, but it has been closed since July 20, 1974, when Turkish troops landed in Cyprus. UN peacekeepers decided that neither side should get the airport. As a result, time has stopped here.

Nicosia Airport has been the main airport in Cyprus since the early thirties. March 27, 1968, 6 years before the war in Cyprus, the most modern terminal for that time was built. They spent more than a million pounds on construction. The new terminal could simultaneously serve 11 aircraft and up to 800 passengers.

Aeroflot planes even flew here.

Acquaintance with the airport for me began with the control tower.

Here's what she looked like forty years ago.

And so it looks now. Time is merciless.

Despite the devastation, it seems that people left here recently. Over forty years, the iron boxes with cards obviously opened in a hurry.

The best view of the surroundings opens from the roof of the control tower, here was the radio operator’s room.

From here I managed to take off UN helicopters performing training flights over the airport.

You can see from there the building of the new airport terminal. So it looked in the early seventies.

And so today. Glasses were broken, letters crumbled, there were traces of shots.

On the sign in the middle of the hall is the inscription Tipping porters not allowed (do not tip the porters). The last porter left here forty years ago.

Forty years only planes painted on the walls fly here.

In the buffet kitchen for forty years there has been no smell of fresh dishes.

The main attraction of the airport is one of two aircraft destroyed by Turkish troops - Hawker Siddeley HS-121 Trident in Cyprus Airways coloring page.

Here it is against the background of the terminal in the early seventies.

And so he looked the next day after the bombing. Damaged, but not yet looted.

His colleague was much less fortunate. War is war.

As a result of the bombing, the entire fleet of Cyprus Airways, which at that time consisted of five aircraft, “landed”. The other two Tridents and BAC1-11 suffered less.

3 years after the war, British specialists repaired them (using, inter alia, spare parts from the destroyed planes) and they left Nicosia Airport under their own power. By the way, this was the last flight from the airport. Today, one of the Tridents (as painted by British European Airways) is in the Daxford Imperial War Museum. The BAC1-11 flew under the flag of Cyprus Airways until 1995.

Trident’s condition at Nicosia’s airport is clearly not a museum - the interior is completely looted, the windows are broken, and bullet marks on the fuselage.

Another aircraft at Nicosia Airport is the military Avro Shackleton MR.3 XF700. In 1962, he made an emergency landing, repairs were considered unprofitable - the aircraft was used as a simulator.

As you can see, the war did not spare him either.

On August 29, 1973, a year before the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, the Czechoslovak Tu-104, flying from Damascus, rolled out of the strip of Nicosia Airport. No one died, but the aircraft was not subject to recovery. This is how the plane looked the day after the accident.

The entrepreneurial Cypriot bought the plane - they say that almost everything was ready to turn it into a restaurant, but the plans prevented the war. Today, the tail of the Carcass, on which the Czechoslovak flag is visible, is located in a zone controlled by Turkish troops.

Cyprus is one of the sunniest Mediterranean islands, so the development of tourism infrastructure here was inevitable. International Cypriot air terminals receive guests around the clock - an endless stream of travelers stretches to the island of love. That's just the south and north of the island people get on different routes.

We will tell you about the international airports of Cyprus and help you find them on the map of the island. We have to look inside the terminals, deal with transport links and lay the optimal route from Moscow.

List of airports in Cyprus

In Cyprus, there are seven airports that are oriented (mainly) to the needs of civil aviation. Airports are in the following places:

• Larnaca
• Pathos;
• Limassol;
• Nicosia
• Gechitkale;
• Episcopi
• Ercan.

Note that Nicosia airport has long been abandoned, so there’s nothing to think of getting into the capital of Cyprus by direct flight.

Gechitkale and Ercan are located in the northern part of the island, but only one of these airports accepts international flights. Thus, the list of international "air gates" of Cyprus is rather scarce - these are Ercan, Paphos and Larnaca.

Coast airports and popular tourist destinations

The international airports of Cyprus are localized in popular coastal regions, and regular transport links are established between them.

The main airport of the Republic of Cyprus is Larnaca, the passenger turnover of which has exceeded eight million souls per year. Tourists from China, the United Arab Emirates, European countries, St. Petersburg and Moscow arrive in Larnaca. Direct flights are possible all year round, in the summer charters from Russia are added.

Within reach of the airport are the main resorts of the country:

• Protaras;
• Ayia Napa;
• Limassol;
• Nicosia.

The distance to these cities from Larnaca is about 50 kilometers. Paphos is 100 km from Larnaca, but it has its own airport.

Larnaca is the largest and youngest airport in Cyprus.

There is no railway connection in Cyprus, so you will travel to nearby cities by wheeled transport. Options are as follows:

• regular bus;
• rented car;
• taxi (to the nearest resorts 50 euros, to Paphos - a hundred).

It is most convenient to go to Limassol - taxis are right at the entrance to the terminal. Regular buses run constantly (a failure is observed only between midnight and three in the morning). A ticket to the same Limassol will cost you 8-9 euros. True, the path from the station to the tourist zone is not a short one, so you will have to pay another 15 euros for a taxi.

  Ayia Napa can be reached from both Larnaca and Paphos. A good option is Intercity taxi. Departing from Larnaca to Ayia Napa on a working day, you will pay 11.5 euros, on weekends - 14.2 euros. From Paphos it will be more expensive - 30-35 euros. Intercity shuttle bus (from Larnaca) costs 7 euros. Car rental will cost approximately 40-50 euros / day.

The main tourist destination associated with the Paphos airport terminal is, in fact, Paphos. It is a stone's throw to an elite resort - a miserable 6 kilometers. A 612 bus runs between the terminal and Paphos. If you arrive at one in the morning, you will have to wait until seven in the morning for the flight. You can also get to the city by taxi - prepare for this 30 euros.

Cyprus airports on the map

It is time to do geographic research. Before the trip, you should carefully study the location of the airports. To do this, we marked the key points on the map - you can independently evaluate the distance to the selected resort.

The main tourist airports of Cyprus

So, you remember that the island is divided in two by the “green line” passing through the center of Nicosia. Therefore, we will consider the airports of the south and north separately. All the best resorts in Cyprus with sandy beaches. And we will start with a review of the “air gates” of the Republic of Cyprus - Larnaca and Paphos.

Larnaca is the youngest and largest airport in Cyprus. It is not far to the nearest cities, but nevertheless we will mention the key distances:

• Larnaca center - 5 km;
• Ayia Napa - 46 km;
• Nicosia - 49 km;
• Limassol - 70 km;
• Paphos - 139 km.

The airport is located in the southwest of Larnaca. The airport’s official website is at www.hermesairports.com. You can contact the help desk by calling +357 24 816 400. There is also an online scoreboard on which you can track the flights you are interested in.

Here is a list of Larnaca's base airlines:

• Cyprus Airways;
• Aegean Airlines
• Eurocypria Airlines.

  There is only one terminal at the airport, but the infrastructure is quite developed. There are car parks nearby, bars, cafes, souvenir shops and duty-free are located in the building. You will also find a VIP room, a business center, a travel agency, bank branches and a first-aid post. Everything you need is placed compactly, the organization is set to a high level. Speed, smiles, hospitality of Cypriots - these are the distinctive features of this small airport terminal.

Now the turn has come to discuss Paphos airport. By congestion, it is considered second after Larnaca. Paphos is focused on an elite beach holiday, which not everyone can afford. Therefore, significantly fewer tourists arrive here. However, small passenger traffic does not affect the quality of services provided.

The terminal infrastructure includes:

• cafes and restaurants;
• the shops;
• aTMs
• rolling offices.

The only airport in Northern Cyprus is Ercan.

The main difference between the Paphos airport terminal is the dominance of charter flights. Paphos is linked to Russia by airlines controlled by Transaero. You can take advantage of low-cost flights (a good option - Ryanair), which have established regular connections with Europe.

The transport problem of Paphos is the lack of direct bus routes to neighboring resorts. Get ready to use the services of taxi drivers, they will cost about 20-70 euros (depending on the destination). You can learn more about this terminal by looking at their official resource - www.hermesairports.com. Here you can find the online scoreboard. Reference number: +357 24 816 400. There are only two basic airlines in Paphos - Eurocypria Airlines and Cyprus Airways.

The following cities are within reach:

• Paphos (center) - 15 km;
• Policy - 50;
• Limassol - 63;
• Nicosia - 146;
• Larnaca - 129.

Ercan is the only way to Northern Cyprus

Most countries of the world did not recognize Northern Cyprus as an independent state, so you have to get there from Russia with transfers. The main airport of Northern Cyprus, while having international status, is Ercan. The airport is located near Nicosia - in the north-east direction from the former capital. Ercan is modest in size, so you will have to walk from the plane to the terminal on foot.

When planning a vacation in Northern Cyprus, get ready to fly through Turkish territory. Transplantation takes place in Antalya or Istanbul. Here we come to an interesting point. If you wish, you can fly to Northern Cyprus via Paphos or Larnaca. But if you arrived in Ercan, forget about entering the south. The local Cypriots will consider this a violation of their law. You may have legal problems. You can bypass the system - do not put the stamp in the passport (for this there is a special form, ask for it).

The following resorts are located near Ercan:

• Nicosia - 13 km;
• Famagusta - 40;
• Kyrenia - 63.

Any information, including an online scoreboard, can be found on the official resource - www.ercanhavalimani.com. Reference number: +90 392 600 5000. The only company whose aircraft land in Ercan is Cyprus Turkish Airlines. The airport is connected by bus to the nearest resorts. You can use the services of taxi drivers.

Optimal routes for Muscovites

The most popular among our compatriots charter flights, the number of which increases sharply with the onset of the high season. Information about the rules for applying for a Cyprus visa for Russians, it is not difficult to get it.

The flights of Cypriot Airlines and our native Aeroflot fly to Larnaca from Moscow. Between Paphos and Moscow ply Transaero aircraft.

It is worth noting that the Cypriot carrier fundamentally goes around Turkish territory, so that the trip can stretch for 4.5 hours.
If you want to rush in three hours, trust life to domestic cabmen.

Non-stop regular flights are organized from Domodedovo. In summer, Sheremetyevo is connected to transportation. If you search, you can find a lot of offers from low-cost airlines. For only 12,000 rubles you can get to Larnaca from Moscow by JatAirways. There are cheaper options:

1. Aegian   - the cost of 11 thousand rubles, docking in Athens (quite long);
2. airBaltic   - the flight will cost you 10-11 thousand (transplant in Riga);
3. Orerenair   - direct charter for 12-15 thousand (flight duration - 3.5 hours).

You can fly from St. Petersburg to Larnaca by Aeroflot - spend 16-18 thousand in total. There are other budget options - Transaero (15 thousand), UIA (12500) and S7 (the same).

You can get to Paphos from Moscow for 117-142 dollars. Departure points are Domodedovo and Vnukovo airports. Carriers - Transaero and C7. You need to fly to Ercan through Istanbul. Departure point - “Domodedovo”.

Summarize. Russians easily get to Cyprus through three international airports, two of which are located in the southern part of the island, and the third - in the unrecognized northern.

From Moscow fly fast - about 3.5 hours (if without transfers). The cost will range from 12-18 thousand (round trip).

When planning a vacation in the north (TRK), do not forget about the political features of this territory. Have a nice trip!

You can find more information on the topic in the section.

As a result of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the island was divided into two parts. Many important buildings, cities and regions have since been abandoned and are slowly being destroyed. One of the most abandoned places on the island of Cyprus and the airport in Nicosia.

The Nicosia airport was once the main island airport. Located in the very center of the island, not far from the capital, it could take all planes arriving on the island. Its construction began in the 30s of the last century. In 1939, the first main runway was built. The owner of the airport was the British Army.

The airport was primarily used by RAF, but shortly after the concrete strip was built, regular civilian flights began. After the outbreak of war, it was suspended. During the Second World War, the airport infrastructure was expanded and the length of the runways and taxiways was increased. In 1943-1944, the airport was used as a base for bombers attacking Romanian refineries in Ploiesti.


  After the war, civilian air traffic to Nicosia was restored, but the airport itself was not quite suitable for handling civil traffic, due to the lack of a terminal. Its construction began only at the beginning of 1949. The work cost about £ 50,000 and ended in May of that year. Over time, in order to cope with the growing passenger flow, in 1959 they decided to increase the terminal. Then the airport in Nicosia received the official status of an international airport.



  In the 60s, the flow of passengers associated with the development of resorts on the island increased more and more, and the airport in Nicosia was not able to handle such a flow of civilian and military vehicles. Therefore, in 1966, the Royal Air Force officially relocated its units to other airports on the island. This made it possible to begin the reconstruction of the airport, and to build a new, much larger terminal.

On March 27, 1968, a new, modern terminal was opened, developed by the German company Dorsch und Gehrmann. The cost of its construction amounted to 1.1 million pounds. The building could accommodate 800 passengers and receive 11 aircraft. In 1974, expansion was planned, but in July all plans collapsed due to a coup on the island.



  The airport was closed to civilian traffic, and was used to host Greek military aircraft, which provided support for Greek revolutionaries. On July 18, a chaotic evacuation of tourists and foreign citizens from Cyprus was organized at the airport. As a result of the Turkish invasion, the airport in Nicosia became one of the main targets of the landing troops. Already on July 20, they bombed, and significantly damaged some of its buildings and infrastructure. After the fighting, the airport was assigned to the demilitarized zone controlled by the United Nations.


Soon, the airport was re-launched in 1977 to evacuate three aircraft owned by Cypriot Airlines. At the airport, there remained one of the Hawker Siddeley Trident, unsuitable for flying and the wreckage of the previously destroyed Avro Shackleton.

Some of the buildings on the outskirts of the airport were seized by UN forces, who used them for their own needs, but the terminal and most of the hangars and workshops were left to their own devices. The collapsing buildings quickly became attractive to adventurers who managed to get to the remains of the old airport.



  The loss of a major airport has significantly affected its island economy. Therefore, already in 1975, one of the British military airfields in the south of the island was transformed into a civilian airport - Larnaca International Airport. In 1983, another airport was launched - Paphos International Airport.



  The issue of the airport in Nicosia has been raised repeatedly, but despite discussions on this subject, no action has been taken. The main reason is the lack of the need to restore the destroyed airport, while the island already has 3 new ones.

It is an island state and receives a large number of tourists from around the world. Here, visitors are many times more than the number of local residents and those who have business relations with Cyprus. In addition, the island has the lowest taxes on European territory, which is why there is also a business center. To get to this paradise for tourists and businessmen is best by plane.

How many airports in Cyprus?

There are seven airports in Cyprus. Two of them are located in the northern part of the island. The first is that which is called Lefkosa or, more commonly, Nicosia. It always flies tourists who are going to spend a vacation in Northern Cyprus. The second is located in the northern part of the country, it is no longer used. This is Gechitkale.

In the southern part is the largest airport, which is called. He accepts the maximum number of visitors. You can also fly to Paphos. But here, mainly charter flights are accepted.

Cyprus international airports for civilian flights include Larnaca and Paphos airports. The rest function as military bases.

Largest Airport in Cyprus - Larnaca

The huge airport covers an area of \u200b\u200babout one hundred thousand square meters. It was built recently and opened its doors in 2009. It was built on the site of the terminal, which has existed in this territory since 1975. Most of Cyprus scheduled flights operate through this airport, and it receives more than seven million passengers a year. He can take not only regular, but also charter flights.

There is one terminal at the airport where local airlines are located. These are Eurocypria Airlines and also Cyprus Airways. Larnaca is considered the hallmark of Cyprus, since it is this airport that welcomes tourists from all over the world.

There are cafes and bars where you can have coffee and a snack while waiting for departure. If you wish, you can make purchases, go around souvenir shops, and also use the duty-free shop. If necessary, you can shop at the pharmacy and newsstand.

There is a first-aid post in the terminal, and you can also get services at bank branches and at a travel agency. The airport has a business center and a VIP lounge. A large selection of alcoholic beverages attract the duty-free tourists here, their scheduled work hours are from six in the morning until ten in the evening, but in fact they open an hour later and close an hour earlier. And those who are going to make purchases there should take this into account.

How to get there

Arriving at the airports of Cyprus is not the ultimate goal of the trip, so it is important to know how and how to move on. Larnaca Airport can also be reached with direct bus transfers. The cost of a one-way ticket is 8-9 euros. A ticket for a child from three to twelve years old costs € 4.00. Buses fly from three in the morning until three in the afternoon.

In both directions you can get by taxi or by. Rental points (and there are two) are located at the airport. You can rent a car in Eurocar or Avis, the rental will cost you approximately from € 21.00 to € 210.00, and the price will depend on the time for which you are going to rent a car, its brand and season.

There are parking lots at the airport where the first twenty minutes will cost € 1.00. There are no free parking at the airport.

Helpful information:

• Address:   6650 Larnaka International Airport, Larnaka, Cyprus
• Airport Directorate Phone: +357 24 816 130
• +357 24 816 400
• Fax machine: +357 24 643 633
• Email:   [email protected]
• Official website of the airport:   www.cyprusairports.com.cy
• Base airlines:   Aegean Airlines (Aegean Airlines), Eurocypria Airlines (Urosaipree Airlines)

Cyprus International Airport - Paphos

  - the second largest in size and passenger turnover in Cyprus. It is located near and was built in 1983. The airport accepts regular flights, but still most of the planes are charter.

Despite the fact that it is smaller than Larnaca, it has excellent service and developed infrastructure. There are shops at the airport, where you can buy not only souvenirs, there are duty-free shops. Also available are bars and small cafes that offer a bite to eat and drink coffee, waiting for departure. Here you can use ATMs or rent a car. First-aid services, car parking and a VIP room are available.

How to get there

From the airport to the cities go special - transfer buses. Flights to Paphos are from seven in the morning until one in the morning, bus number 612. Just remember that this is a schedule that falls at the peak of the tourist season, April-November. The rest of the time there are fewer flights. Bus number 613 makes two flights a day, it leaves the airport at eight in the morning and seven in the evening. From here you can also get to Limassol by bus, the cost is € 8.00, for children 3-12 years old - € 4.00.

You can also get from the airport to the city by taxi, costing approximately € 27.00- € 30.00. Larnaca can be reached by taxi for € 110.00, and Limassol is approximately € 65.00. Drivers speak German, Russian, Greek.

In Cyprus there are Russian taxi companies. A trip from Paphos airport to the city will cost you € 27.00-30.00, in Larnaca - € 110.00, in Limassol - € 60.00- € 70.00.

Two hours before departure, check-in for international flights is performed, including an identity check and check-in of your baggage. Also, if you have goods purchased in Cyprus, here you can get a tax deduction for purchases, tax-free.

Helpful information:

• Address:   8061 Pafos International Airport, Cyprus
• Airport Information Phone: +357 24 816 400
• Fax machine: +357 26 007 100
• Email:   [email protected]
• Base airlines:   Eurocypria Airlines (Urosaipria Airlines)

So in English called another airport in Cyprus. Sometimes he is called Ercan or Nicosia, but correctly - Ercan. It is twenty-five kilometers from Lefkosa, but this distance can be covered by car in just half an hour. From the airport you can also get to the main point of tourism in Northern Cyprus - Kyrenia in about forty minutes. To Famagusta go about an hour.

Every day, the airport receives transit flights from Pegasus, Turkish Airlines and Aeroflot. The same flights with a very short expectation through Turkey are made from many cities of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and some other countries, including European ones. And every year the list of departure points is growing.

This airport has one feature - from the arriving plane to the terminal, passengers walk. But the rest of the airport is quite comfortable.

When planning to fly to the airport of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, expect that you will fly through Turkey. But if you do not plan to spend a lot of time in Antalya or Istanbul, then a visa is not needed, and things will arrive directly in Ercan.

When passing control at customs, in order to avoid further problems with obtaining a Schengen, ask the customs officer to put a stamp on the form, and not in the passport.

Customs Features

In the territory of Northern Cyprus you can bring your own jewelry and sports equipment, as well as cameras and camcorders. The maximum amount allowed to be imported is ten thousand dollars or the equivalent in another currency. If you don’t want to pay a fee, you can bring in four hundred cigarettes and half a kilogram of tobacco, as well as a liter of alcohol. When leaving the territory, remember that it is strictly forbidden to take out any archaeological objects, not only whole, but also their parts.

How to get there

It is easy to fly to Ercan with a transfer in Turkey or without a transfer from several cities of this country, using the services of Turkish airlines.

It is better to get to neighboring settlements from the airport by taxi, after 30-40 minutes you can get to Nicosia, Famagusta or Kyrenia.

: LCNC

military (formerly civilian)

Coordinates: 35 ° 09′00 ″ s w. 033 ° 16′38 ″ c. d. /  35.15000 ° c. w. 33.27722 ° in. d./ 35.15000; 33.27722   (G) (I)

Nicosia International Airport   (Greek Διεθνές Αεροδρόμιο Λευκωσίας tour. Lefkoşa Uluslararası Havaalanı; IATA: Nic, ICAO: LCNC) is the international airport of the Republic of Cyprus, located west of Nicosia in the suburbs of Lakatamia. In the past, it was the main airport of the island of Cyprus until the Turkish invasion in 1974, after which it was closed to receiving civil aviation. Currently, it is based on the contingent of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.

History

Nicosia airfield was opened in the 1930s and was initially used as the Royal Air Force base, and until now it is formally owned by the British Ministry of Defense. But in 1939, Shell Company built a runway that it began to use to land its aircraft. In the same year, the Arab airline Misrair launched flights to Cyprus. During the Second World War, American bombers were based here, who carried out the bombing of Romania.

Since 1948, civilian flights to the Nikossiysk Airport were resumed, including using it by Misrair, BOAC, Cyprus Airways and Middle East Airlines. In 1949, the first terminal building was erected, as Nissen’s huts were used before. In 1959, the building was extended, but in 1968 a new building was erected, and the old one was given to the local flying club. The expansion of the airport was planned for 1974, but the events that occurred in July, culminating in the Turkish invasion, crossed out this plan. After that, flights to Nicosia Airport were stopped. The last passenger aircraft flew from the airport in 1977 with UN permission, when British Airways took the remaining three Cyprus Airways aircraft at the airport.

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References

•   from Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (valid as of October 2006).
•   at NOAA / NWS
•   on the Aviation Safety Network

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