Larnaca airport has been classed among the best in Europe during the recent general assembly of the Airports Council International Europe (ACI) in Athens, Hermes Airports said on Friday.

The airport came in second place in the category that included airports of five to ten million passengers after Sofia’s Vasil Levski airport, and awarded the accolade “highly commended”.

“This accolade from the international airport body, ACI Europe, highlights Hermes Airports’ commitment to quality, growth of connectivity, sustainability, and excellent passenger service,” the operator said on Friday.

It added that Hermes had stood out for its holistic growth strategy, “which balances environmental stewardship, community value, and operational resilience”.

At the same time, the company’s initiatives and strategy for improving air connectivity – aligned with Cyprus’ tourism objectives – place a strong emphasis on addressing seasonality, it added.

Hermes CEO, Eleni Kaloyirou, said: “This accolade is a testament to our team’s collective efforts and our commitment to continuous improvement. We remain dedicated to executing our strategy and placing Larnaca Airport firmly on the map of Europe’s leading airports.”

The latest ACI Europe Air Connectivity Report 2025 published this week, ranked Larnaca and Papahos airports first, among European airports in terms of the growth rate in direct air connectivity, in terms of number of flights and total destinations served.

The increase recorded for 2025 compared to 2024 was 18 per cent.

Cyprus also ranks second among European countries in the growth of direct air connectivity in 2025 compared to 2019, with a 22 per cent increase.

Based on the same report, Cyprus ranks third among European countries in the growth of total air connectivity – direct and indirect flights – for 2025 compared with 2019, with an 8 per cent increase.