Concrete barriers separating two traffic lanes outside the passenger terminal at Paphos Airport are being removed and replaced with plastic bollards, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades announced on Tuesday.
Speaking during a visit to the airport to mark the start of the removal works, Vafeades said the concrete blocks had been installed about two years ago for security reasons, following the outbreak of the conflict in Israel.
“Today we can say with certainty that the risk which existed back then no longer applies, and therefore we can safely remove them,” he told reporters.
The minister explained that the measure had been introduced after a meeting between security agencies, who considered it necessary to enhance the airport’s safety level. “It may not have been obvious to us what they achieved,” he said, “but the security services had specific information in mind.”
Vafeades added that the decision followed repeated requests from DIKO MP Chrysanthos Savvides, who had been pushing for the removal for some time. “We could not address it until now, when it was confirmed that the threat had passed,” he said.
Public Works crews began dismantling the barriers early Tuesday and are expected to remove all of them by the end of the day. The new plastic bollards will continue to separate the two lanes — one for taxi drivers and the other for passengers moving around the parking area.
The minister said that while the removal marks an improvement, other issues at Paphos Airport remain to be addressed, such as the long distance taxi drivers must walk to collect passengers from the arrivals hall.
“We all recognise that there are problems there as well, but we will proceed with a comprehensive regulation of all matters,” he assured.
Asked whether the blocks could have stopped a potential commando-style attack, Vafeades clarified that this was never their purpose. “That was not the idea — it was a security measure agreed upon at the time to enhance overall safety,” he said.
He reminded reporters that, initially, vehicle access to the area had been completely prohibited. “Then there was a partial reopening, and now we are pleased to be in a position to remove them entirely,” he added.
The minister also said further announcements concerning taxi drivers at the airport would follow soon.
DIKO MP Chrysanthos Savvides welcomed the move, thanking the minister for responding to long-standing concerns and for the cooperation during their discussions both at the ministry and on site.
Leonidas Kouris, president of the Paphos Airport taxi drivers’ association, also expressed appreciation to Vafeades for acting on the issues raised in a recent letter, and thanked Savvides for his continued involvement.
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