Queues at Larnaca Airport. Passengers should arrive early.

Large queues formed at Larnaca Airport on Thursday evening, with hundreds of passengers congregating at the security checkpoint, trying to get to their gates in time for the near-simultaneous departure of several flights.

Those planning to depart from Larnaca should arrive at the airport earlier than usual, check the status of their flight, and avoid last-minute check-in. The official schedule confirms that boarding began for five flights on September 24 between 9:05 and 9:30 PM.

Queues at Larnaca Airport

Photos posted on social media showed large numbers of travelers waiting to clear security. The lines filled much of the terminal, leaving passengers anxious about whether they would make it to their gates in time.

The situation was caused by overlapping check-in times for several flights. According to the official Hermes Airports schedule, these were:

• 21:05 – Aegean Airlines to Athens,
• 21:05 – easyJet to Bristol,
• 21:20 – easyJet to Liverpool,
• 21:25 – Sky Express to Athens,
• 21:30 – connection to Cluj-Napoca.

This means that in just 25 minutes, passengers on five flights began boarding. All flights were listed in the official system as being boarded. There were no reports of cancellations.

Passengers and employees under great pressure

The crowds weren't just a problem for travelers. Airport staff had to quickly get passengers from several flights through security and to their gates.

The website "Nέα Πόλις" published information about Thursday's situation, citing people inside the terminal. According to reports, similar traffic spikes are expected to occur as often as three or four times a week starting in May, especially when the check-in times of several flights overlap.

The report of these recurring problems has not yet been officially confirmed. It is also unknown what the actual wait time was before security checks, or whether any passengers missed their flights due to the queue.

There is currently no information about a system failure, strike or other sudden event that could explain Thursday's queues.

Check your luggage before you leave

You can avoid additional delays by preparing for check-in before arriving at the terminal. It's worth checking baggage dimensions and weight, liquid regulations, and specific airline requirements.

Flying from Larnaca? Arrive early.

Passengers departing from Larnaca should check their flight status and airline announcements before departure. Given the current queues, it's a good idea to arrive at the terminal earlier than usual to allow extra time for baggage checks, security checks, and any document checks.

We don't provide a single time that will work for all travelers, as the required time depends on the airline, destination, checked baggage, and check-in method. It's crucial not to plan your arrival for the minimum possible time.

As of the time of publication, Hermes Airports has not provided an official statement regarding the reasons for Thursday's queues or the actual waiting time to pass through security.

Sources: Hermes Airports, Νέα Πόλις, passenger reports from Larnaca Airport