Serious concerns over Nicosia FIR safety have been raised before Parliament by the Cyprus Air Traffic Controllers’ Association (CYATCA), citing Turkish military flights and staff shortages in air traffic control services.
Speaking before a joint meeting of the Parliamentary Committees on Transport and Defence, CYATCA President Giorgos Georgiou described the Nicosia FIR as both a flight safety and national sovereignty issue.
The union also called for the state-owned air navigation services company to begin operating as soon as possible.
Near-miss involving Turkish A400M
CYATCA referred again to the incident on 19 August involving a Turkish military Airbus A400M and a Boeing 737 passenger aircraft.
According to the union, the Turkish aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR without establishing communication and deviated from its flight plan, bringing it onto a converging course with the passenger aircraft. The incident was also reported at the time by the European Coordination of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations and the Cyprus union.
CYATCA said the timely intervention of controllers at the Nicosia Area Control Centre prevented a potentially serious incident.
The union maintains that the incident was not isolated, citing what it describes as continued Turkish military aircraft and drone activity in the FIR and Ankara’s refusal to establish direct communication with the Nicosia control centre.
The Department of Civil Aviation has previously said that the presence of Turkish aircraft in the Nicosia FIR is a longstanding operational reality and that flight safety remains at a particularly high level.
90 controllers instead of 140
CYATCA also raised concerns about staffing levels.
According to figures presented by the union, air traffic control services currently operate with around 90 controllers, compared with an estimated requirement of 140.
The union said it requested 40 additional positions in 2021 and repeated the request in 2023, but 15 positions were ultimately approved in 2025.
According to CYATCA, the new controllers are not expected to be ready to take up duties before 2028.
The union has warned that flight delays could begin to increase from summer 2027 because of the staffing shortage. It also said the Approach Radar cannot operate around the clock because of insufficient personnel.
Call for state-owned air navigation company
CYATCA is calling for the immediate operation of the state-owned company responsible for providing air navigation services.
The union said the Cabinet approved the creation of the company in 2013, while Parliament passed the relevant legislation in 2019.
According to CYATCA, the articles of association, founding document, five-year business plan and employment arrangements have already been completed under EUROCONTROL guidance and Ministry of Transport supervision. It said preparation costs have exceeded €2 million.
The union estimates that Cyprus will need another 40 to 60 air traffic controllers by 2030 and argues that an autonomous corporate structure could accelerate recruitment, training and technological upgrades.
The establishment of the Cyprus Air Navigation Services company, CyANS, has also previously been described by European air traffic controllers as a strategic necessity.
Union calls for clear timetable
Addressing the two parliamentary committees, Georgiou called for parliamentary oversight to speed up the process and for the Ministry of Transport to provide a specific timetable.
CYATCA said every month of delay means fewer staff, less operational flexibility and greater exposure to risks for which controllers are required to compensate in practice.
The union also referred to recent remarks by President Nikos Christodoulides praising the “excellent, professional work” of air traffic controllers, saying it now expects practical support for the operation of the state-owned air navigation company as soon as possible.
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