Cyprus is a well-liked vacation spot, but the Nicosia International Airport has been derelict for decades following the outbreak of war Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Comments
Eerie photographs have showcased the interior of a deserted airport that has been left untouched for nearly five decades – with terminals and aeroplanes left to rot.
Nicosia International Airport, once Cyprus’s radiant main entrance, now stands eerily silent and derelict, acting as a grim reminder of the savage conflict that ripped the island apart.
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Initially built during the 1930s, the facility commenced as an RAF base before transforming into the nation’s principal civilian aviation centre.
Following a Turkish military incursion in 1974, the airport was located on the battle’s leading edge and sustained considerable destruction from bombing attacks and fierce fighting.
A ceasefire was ultimately agreed upon, but only after the site was designated as a United Nations Protected Area – its borders now comprising part of the island’s demilitarized zone.
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Commercial operations struggled to proceed for a brief duration. In 1977, three Cyprus Airways aeroplanes stranded on the runway were finally taken away, thanks to British Airways engineers’ assistance.
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Nevertheless, the airport never completely bounced back from the damage, and has remained practically untouched since, conserved as a wartime vestige.
Inside the terminal building today, rows of dust-laden chairs remain positioned where travellers once waited in line, while faded advertising displays on the walls still promote sun-soaked vacations to “the ends of the earth”.
Pigeons roost in the ceiling joists – the sole sounds now emanate from wildlife taking back this formerly bustling transport hub.
On the runway lies the dismantled remains of a Hawker Siddeley Trident, its bullet-marked engine components having been detached a long time ago. Despite the termination of scheduled passenger flights, the airport has not been entirely deserted.
It now functions as the headquarters for the UN Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP), with helicopters still using a section of the location.
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However, public entry is severely restricted due to safety worries and years of disrepair, permitting only a chosen few to observe the run-down halls.
Throughout the years, there have been flickers of optimism for a renewal. In the 1990s and onward, discussions regarding reopening the airport were facilitated by the UN.
Yet, political rifts kept it grounded, with no accord ever being attained. Aleem Siddique, spokesperson for the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus, formerly told Reuters: “It is actually frozen in time.
“Although there were several attempts over the years by the sides to reach an agreement, to see the airport being re-opened, restored, and rehabilitated, the sides were unable to reach an agreement, so gradually the condition of the airport had deteriorated. No planes have left or arrived since 1974.”
Thanks to a digital revival project by the Cyprus Institute, the public can now practically tour the airport. The “NIC Platform” permits users to explore offices, duty-free zones, and jetways – all preserved online in haunting detail.
One local dweller living a few kilometres from the airport managed to acquire special authorization to enter.
Recounting the experience, he stated: “Being a local, and four years old when the invasion took place, I tell you, I was inundated with immeasurable emotions when I went in.
“It’s eerie. It’s emotional. It’s frustrating. It’s sad. Believe me, your mind can make you hear the noise of a buzzing airport, passengers and planes and announcements and all. It’s insane. This is a time freeze that should never have occurred.”