TUI has cancelled several flights to Cyprus amid rising tensions in the region.
TUI suspends flights to Cyprus and advises customers to check travel updates
The decision comes as HMS Dragon, a UK Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer, is being deployed to the eastern Mediterranean.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also informed Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides that the UK is sending helicopters equipped with counter-drone technology. The move follows a drone strike on the runway at RAF Akrotiri, a British air base in Cyprus, which caused “minimal damage,” according to the Ministry of Defence.
On Tuesday, flights to both of Cyprus’s commercial airports were cancelled, affecting easyJet, Ryanair, and TUI services. TUI confirmed that four of its flights scheduled for Wednesday, 4 March, have been cancelled:
• TOM7318 – East Midlands to Paphos
• TOM6312 – Cardiff to Paphos
• TOM6354 – Bournemouth to Paphos
• TOM2336 – Manchester to Paphos
A TUI spokesperson said: “In light of the evolving situation in the Middle East, we have taken the decision to cancel the four TUI Airways flights scheduled to travel to Cyprus on Wednesday. We appreciate this may be disappointing news for those due to travel, and we are truly sorry for the disruption to our customers’ holiday plans. Our customer service teams are fully mobilised, and every affected customer will be contacted directly to discuss the options available to them.”
The airline added that customers will be offered the choice to amend bookings fee-free, receive a rebooking incentive, or obtain a full refund.
TUI confirmed its next Cyprus flights are scheduled for Saturday, 7 March, but warned that schedules could change as the situation remains dynamic. Passengers are advised to check the TUI travel alert page and app for updates.
For those already in Cyprus, TUI says its teams are monitoring the situation and making arrangements to bring customers back to the UK safely. The Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) does not currently advise against travel to Cyprus but recommends signing up for email alerts, monitoring local news, and reviewing departure plans regularly.