Another 307 Cypriot citizens have safely returned from Dubai on Friday, as the government continues emergency repatriation flights from high-risk areas of the Middle East.
Two commercial flights landed at Larnaca airport on Friday evening, those being Cyprus Airways aircraft carrying 145 passengers, including four infants, arrived at 18.40pm, followed by a TUS Airways flight from Al Maktoum Airport with 162 passengers at 19.15pm.
Speaking at a press conference, government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said the operation has so far returned five flights, bringing the total number of repatriated citizens to 805.
“We are operating with narrow windows of opportunity by which to return Cypriots from the Emirates,” he said, adding that safety remains the overriding priority.
Earlier flights have returned citizens from Israel, Jordan and Bahrain.
Passengers described initial fear but said conditions were calmer than portrayed online.
“We were all terrified and waiting to come home and see our families,” one traveller said, while another added there had been “a bit of panicking” before flights were organised.
Kyriacou, a passenger on an earlier flight, recalled defensive interceptions. “There were interceptions and fragments of drones kept falling. Things were relatively alright but we stayed indoors,” he said.
Regional airspace disruptions continue to affect Larnaca airport, with 39 flights cancelled on Friday.
Passengers are urged to check with their airline before heading to the airport.
Travellers are encouraged to register on the Connect2CY platform.
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