During the months of July and August, 98.9% and 97.8% of passengers, respectively, have been served at security checks in less than 10 minutes, at Larnaca airport while at the passport control points at departures, for EU/EEA/UK/Switzerland citizens, the figures were 87.6% and 90.8%, for the respective months, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works has said.

Passenger service times at the various checkpoints at airports are systematically monitored, the Ministry said in a press release on Monday, assuring the travelling public of its commitment to provide a high level of service at Larnaca and Paphos airports, following press reports in recent days.

It is noted that the airports have been designed in such a way that passenger waiting times are within the acceptable limits set by IATA international standards.

The press release points out that in particular, as far as Larnaca Airport is concerned, during the months of July and August, 98.9% and 97.8% of passengers, respectively, have been served at security checks in less than 10 minutes, while at the passport control points at departures, for EU/EEA/UK/Switzerland citizens, the figures were 87.6% and 90.8%, for the respective months.

It is added that the Ministry, in cooperation with the airport operator Hermes Airports Ltd and the Cyprus Police, is in the process of implementing a plan for the separation of passenger flows, in order to increase the speed of service for passengers mainly from EU/EEA countries, during the passport control process on arrival and departure.

It is noted that despite the continuous challenges observed in the staffing of the various checkpoints and baggage claim points, and despite the rapid increase in the number of passengers passing through the airports, the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works believes that the measures taken, in cooperation with the stakeholders at the airports, will make it possible to improve the service offered to people travelling.