Paphos airport is safe, deputy government spokesman Yiannis Antoniou insisted on Tuesday, after Israeli airlines suspended their operations in and out of Paphos, Cyprus’ second airport.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, he said both Paphos and Larnaca airports are safe, and that the measures “concern airlines with Israeli interests”.

Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet had on Monday instructed flag carrier airline El Al and Arkia to not fly to Paphos “due to security reasons that cannot be made public”, with no further announcement having since been made.

Later on Tuesday, Paphos-based journalist Kostas Nanos explained that the issue is not related to Paphos per se, but rather part of an Israeli initiative to bolster its own security in Cyprus.

At Larnaca airport, he told the Cyprus Mail, this has entailed the placement of a boat in the sea next to the runway, a patrol car at the perimeter fence, and armed men in the control tower.

He added that Israeli officials had visited Paphos airport last week to evaluate security measures being taken and had asked that they also be bolstered, but that a lack of Israeli personnel on the island had meant they could only increase their own presence at one of the Republic of Cyprus’ two airports.

As such, he said, they had decided to halt operations in and out of Paphos, where there is a smaller number of flights to and from Israel.

It is expected that the measures will be lifted over the weekend.

Antoniou had told CyBC that the Republic of Cyprus had been “aware of the development” over the past few days, and that flights between Israel and Larnaca airport had been continuing as normal.

However, the civil aviation department on Monday morning denied that any safety issue had arisen at Paphos airport.

“Paphos airport is operating normally despite a technical problem which recently arose,” it said, adding that the problem in question “concerned radio navigation” and had no impact on flight safety.

The Cyprus Mail on Tuesday made further attempts to contact the government, the civil aviation department, the Paphos municipality, El Al, Arkia, Shin Bet, the Israeli defence ministry, and the Israeli civil aviation department, but received no response.

On Monday, the Israeli embassy in Nicosia had told CNA that in light of “various security issues”, the decision had been taken to temporarily operate Israeli airline flights to and from Cyprus out of Larnaca.

“The situation will continue to be closely monitored and assessed in full cooperation with local authorities,” the embassy statement added.

Passengers who were due to land in Paphos reported their flights were cancelled or diverted, according to Israeli newspaper the Jerusalem Post, although passengers had not been instructed to avoid making their way to Paphos independently after landing.

Israel is famed, among other things, for strict airport and airline security, with El Al well known for its extensive security measures.

El Al is the only civil airline which has its aircraft equipped with missile defence systems, while all El Al pilots are former Israeli air force pilots.