Two Airports, One Island
Almost every trip to or from Cyprus starts with the same practical question: Larnaca or Paphos? The island has two international airports, roughly 110 km apart by motorway, and the right answer depends on where you are staying, which airline you are flying, what time of year it is, and — increasingly — what the fare difference looks like once bags and transfers are added in.
At JetSet Travel we book flights out of both airports every single day. As a Paphos-based, IATA-accredited agency (Tourism Licence 7775, IATA 14200130), we have spent 20 years watching clients pick the wrong airport for the right reasons — usually because they compared headline fares and forgot the 90-minute transfer at the other end. This guide sets out how we actually make the choice for our clients in 2026.
The Short Answer
- Staying on the west coast (Paphos town, Coral Bay, Latchi, Polis) → fly Paphos (PFO) whenever a route exists.
- Staying east (Larnaca, Ayia Napa, Protaras) or in Nicosia → fly Larnaca (LCA), no contest.
- Staying in Limassol → genuinely either. The drive is about 45 minutes to both, so choose on schedule and fare.
- Connecting to the Gulf, the Middle East, or beyond Europe → Larnaca, which carries nearly all of the island's long-haul-facing traffic.
- Hunting the cheapest low-cost fare from the UK or central Europe in summer → check Paphos first.
Now the detail behind those rules.
Larnaca and Paphos at a Glance
Both airports are operated by Hermes Airports, and 2025 was a record year for them: 13.75 million passengers combined, with around 60 airlines flying roughly 160 routes to 41 countries.
| Larnaca (LCA) | Paphos (PFO) | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 passengers | 9.91 million (+14%) | 3.84 million (+5%) |
| Role | Main international gateway | Low-cost and leisure gateway |
| Network character | Full-service + low-cost, Middle East links, year-round frequency | Strongly UK- and Europe-focused, low-cost led, seasonal peaks |
| Typical carriers | Aegean, Cyprus Airways, Wizz Air (base), TUS Airways, British Airways, Lufthansa Group, Emirates, flydubai | Ryanair (focus city), Jet2, easyJet, TUI, Wizz Air, British Airways (seasonal) |
| Terminal feel | Larger, busier, more shops and lounges | Compact — fast kerb-to-gate times |
Where Each Airport Flies
Larnaca (LCA): the bigger network
Larnaca carries roughly 70% of the island's traffic and is where the network depth is. It is home base for Cyprus Airways and TUS Airways, hosts a Wizz Air base, and has the frequency that matters for flexible travel: multiple daily Athens rotations with Aegean, daily London Heathrow with British Airways, and the island's Middle East connectivity — Dubai, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman and the Gulf hubs that open up one-stop routings to Asia, Africa and Australia.
If your journey involves a connection — Larnaca is usually the right starting point simply because a missed or delayed leg has more recovery options behind it.
Paphos (PFO): the low-cost specialist
Paphos is leaner — around 17 airlines serving 50+ airports as of mid-2026 — but what it does, it does very well. It is a Ryanair focus city with the airline's largest Cyprus route map, and the UK coverage is outstanding: Jet2 flies year-round from Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle and Nottingham, while easyJet runs year-round from Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick and Manchester. British Airways adds seasonal London flights, TUI covers the package market, and Ryanair fills in an ever-rotating map of UK, Irish, central European and Scandinavian routes.
The catch is seasonality. UK routes hold up well through winter, but many continental routes thin out or pause entirely between November and March. If you need a specific city pair in January, check whether it actually operates that month before you plan around it — or ask us and we will check for you.
Drive Times That Actually Decide It
For most travellers the deciding factor is not the airline — it is the transfer. Approximate driving times on the A6/A5/A2 motorways:
| Where you're staying | To Paphos (PFO) | To Larnaca (LCA) |
|---|---|---|
| Paphos town / Kato Paphos | 15 min | 1 h 30 |
| Coral Bay | 25 min | 1 h 40 |
| Latchi / Polis | 45 min | 1 h 55 |
| Limassol | 40–45 min | 45–50 min |
| Troodos resorts (Platres) | ~1 h 10 | ~1 h 15 |
| Nicosia | 1 h 30+ | 35–40 min |
| Larnaca town | 1 h 30 | 10–15 min |
| Ayia Napa | ~2 h | 40–45 min |
| Protaras | ~2 h 10 | ~50 min |
Two things stand out. First, Limassol and the Troodos are the only genuine toss-ups — everywhere else, one airport wins clearly. Second, a €25 fare saving stops being a saving when it comes with an extra 90 minutes each way and a longer taxi bill: a taxi from Larnaca airport to Paphos typically costs several times more than the short hop from Paphos airport.
Both airports have shuttle and intercity bus links (including regular Limassol and Nicosia services), and local buses connect Paphos airport with the town and harbour. For families and groups, a pre-booked private transfer usually beats both on total cost per person — something we arrange as standard with flight bookings.
Fares, Baggage and Disruption
Headline fares out of Paphos are often lower — that is the Ryanair/Jet2/easyJet effect. But compare like with like:
- Add the bags. Low-cost hand-luggage fares climb quickly once you add a checked bag each way; a full-service fare into Larnaca with luggage included is sometimes cheaper for a family of four.
- Add the transfer. Use the drive-time table above and price the taxi or car hire difference honestly.
- Think about disruption. Larnaca's denser schedule means more re-routing options when a flight cancels. From Paphos, the "next available flight" on the same route may be two or three days away in shoulder season.
This is exactly the comparison we run when clients request a quote — both airports, total journey cost, total journey time.
For Business Travellers
For corporate itineraries the answer is almost always Larnaca: early-morning departures, multiple daily Athens rotations for same-day meetings, the Heathrow service, and one-stop Gulf connections eastbound. If your company is based in Limassol or even western Cyprus, the frequency advantage usually outweighs the marginally longer drive. Our corporate travel team builds airport choice into travel policies for exactly this reason — and with Cyprus expected to complete Schengen accession, departure formalities at both airports are changing too: the EU Entry/Exit System is already deployed at Larnaca and Paphos, and intra-Schengen flights will eventually move to a domestic-style flow.
Flying Into One, Out of the Other
Open-jaw itineraries — into Larnaca, home from Paphos, or vice versa — are perfectly practical and sometimes the cheapest combination, especially for two-centre holidays (east coast + west coast). The main cost trap is one-way car hire fees between airports; check that before you book, or use a point-to-point transfer for the middle leg.
How We Choose for Our Clients
Our booking rule of thumb, refined over two decades in Paphos:
- Geography first. West of Limassol, default to Paphos; east of Limassol, default to Larnaca.
- Then the route. If only one airport serves your city nonstop in your travel month, that usually settles it.
- Then total cost and time — fare + bags + transfer, door to door, both directions.
- Then resilience. Tight connection, cruise departure or a wedding you cannot miss? Weight Larnaca's frequency, or build in a buffer day.
If that sounds like work, it is — and it is work we do daily. Check our month-by-month Cyprus guide for when to travel, and let us handle the how.
FAQ
Which airport is cheaper to fly into?
Usually Paphos for low-cost point-to-point fares from the UK, Ireland and central Europe — but not always once checked bags and transfers are included. For full-service and Middle East routes, Larnaca is often cheaper simply because the routes exist there. Always price both.
Which airport should I use for Limassol?
Either — Limassol sits almost exactly between them, around 45 minutes from each. Pick whichever has the better fare and flight time for your dates. Cruise passengers sailing from Limassol port should also check both airports when booking cruise packages.
Can I fly into Larnaca and out of Paphos?
Yes. Open-jaw bookings are routine and often sensible for two-centre holidays. Watch for one-way car hire drop-off fees between the two airports; a pre-booked transfer is often the cleaner solution.
Is there public transport from the airports?
Yes. Both airports have shuttle bus connections to Limassol and Nicosia, and Paphos airport has local bus links into Paphos town and the harbour. Taxis operate from both on regulated tariffs. For most families, a pre-arranged private transfer is the most cost-effective door-to-door option.
Which airport is better for long-haul connections?
Larnaca. Neither airport has direct North America or Asia flights, but Larnaca's one-stop options — via London, Athens, Vienna, Dubai and the Gulf hubs — are far deeper than anything available from Paphos.
Booking flights from Cyprus this year? We compare both airports, every airline and the true door-to-door cost — then handle the booking, transfers and any disruption on the day. Get a free quote or talk to our flights team.
Call us: +357 99 478 073 | Visit: www.jetset-travel.com
