No place in Europe is set to feel the impact of the conflict unfolding across the horizon more than Cyprus.
The tourist-dependent nation, the EU’s nearest member to the Middle East, attracted 4 million visitors last year, a third of them Brits for whom the former colony is an old favourite.
But after last weekend’s US-led offensive against Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks, this year could be different.
A UK airbase in Cyprus was hit by a drone strike on March 2 as conflict continues to spread across the Middle East.
The strike at RAF Akrotiri, by an Iranian-made Shahed drone, came hours after Sir Keir Starmer allowed the US to use British military bases to attack Iran.
Thankfully, there were no casualties, and only minor damage, with the blast targeting the airport runway.
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Nikos Christodoulides, the Cypriot president, said the country’s forces were on ‘alert and in full operational readiness’.
Since the first strike, two unmanned drones targeting the base have been shot down.
Jetski and watersports business owner, Vassilis Georgiou, relies on tourism for his livelihood in the tourist hub of Ayia Napa.
He told The Guardian that people are now ‘thinking twice’ about heading to the region.
‘I’ve been here since 1992 and suddenly hoteliers are saying bookings are down,’ he said.
Kostas Koumis, Cyprus’ deputy tourism minister, has said he’s hopeful the country will have a good tourist season if the conflict ends by Easter, although Trump claimed this would only happen after Iran’s ‘unconditional surrender’.
With so much uncertainty, many are wondering whether whether it’s safe to travel or it’s better to rearrange plans.
Is it safe to travel to Cyprus?
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has said there is a ‘significant security risk’ due to regional tension in Cyprus. It also warns of significant travel disruption caused by airspace closures across the Middle East.
Brits travelling to Cyprus are urged to keep their plans ‘under review’ and ‘ensure all travel documents are up to date’.
Other precautions are also recommended, including signing up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts as well as following instructions from local authorities.
The FCDO advises travellers to monitor local and international news sites for the latest updates.
British nationals should also read the UK Government’s guidance on how to prepare for a crisis and what to do in a crisis abroad.
Can you fly from the UK to Cyprus right now?
Many airlines fly direct from the UK to Cyprus, including British Airways, Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air UK and Jet2.
Following the drone strike on Monday, more than 60 flights to and from airports in Cyprus were cancelled, and Paphos Airport in the southwest of the island was evacuated after a ‘suspect object’ was detected on radar.
Budget airline easyJet cancelled all flights between the UK and Cyprus due to ‘increased security issues in the Eastern Mediterranean’, and BA also cancelled flights.
An easyJet spokesperson said: ‘Due to the events overnight affecting the RAF base in Akrotiri in Cyprus, as a precaution, three return flights between Paphos and Larnaca and the UK today will not be operating.
‘Flights from 3 March are currently operating as planned, but we would advise customers due to travel to and from Cyprus over the coming days to check our flight tracker for the latest information.
‘We are doing all we can to minimise the impact for our customers and are providing options for rebooking, including on other airlines or a refund as well as hotel accommodation and meals for those who require them.
‘The safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority, and we continue to closely monitor the security situation in the region.’
There are 125 flights with almost 25,000 seats from the UK to Cyprus over the two Easter holiday weekends from 28 March to 5 April, data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows.
If you’re due to fly out, keep checking the status of your flight and sign up to receive official communications from your airline for further updates.
What to do if your flight to Cyprus is cancelled?
According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), if your flight is cancelled, airlines must provide passengers with assistance under UK law.
This includes a reasonable amount of food and drink (usually provided as a voucher), a means of communication, accommodation if you are rerouted the next day, and transport to and from the accommodation.
The CAA says: ‘The airline must provide you with these items until it is able to fly you to your destination, no matter how long the delay lasts or what has caused it.
‘Sometimes airlines are unable to arrange care and assistance for all passengers. This can happen when staff are stretched during major disruptions.
‘If this happens, in our view, you have the right to organise reasonable care and assistance yourself, then claim the cost back later. If you end up paying for things yourself, keep every receipt and do not spend more than is reasonable. Airlines are unlikely to refund you for things like luxury hotels or alcohol. Some will provide guidance on reasonable costs.’
Can you get a refund if you decide not to travel to Cyprus?
If you decide against travelling, whether or not you can claim a refund will depend on your ticket type.
If you have a flexible ticket, you may be able to claim a full refund or change the date of travel, up to 24 hours prior to departure.
However, if you’ve booked a non-refundable ticket, you may not be eligible for a refund, as the Foreign Office hasn’t advised against travel to Cyprus.
Keep an eye on travel alerts and news in case anything changes.
Can I fly to Turkey right now?
Yes. Planes are flying from the UK to Istanbul Airport. Today, for example, a flight from London Gatwick landed on time at 1.20pm local time.
Still, it’s worth keeping a close eye for updates. As of midday, today March 9, the US has ordered citizens to leave ‘southeast Turkey’.
Washington has also ordered all non-essential diplomats to leave its consulate near the southern Turkish city of Adana, near a key NATO base.
If you are visiting other parts of Turkey, the FCDO currently advises against all travel to within 10km of the border with Syria, ‘due to fighting and heightened risk of terrorism’.
This guidance has been in place for many years and is not related to the current situation in the Middle East.
Travellers are also warned to avoid from areas around security or military facilities and keep all departure plans under review.
The FCDO adds: ‘If you are advised to take shelter, stay indoors or find the nearest safe building or designated shelter. An interior stairwell or a room with as few external walls or windows as possible may provide additional protection.’
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