EasyJet cancels UK-Greek Cyprus flights until Thursday

GENEVA

Low-cost carrier EasyJet has reportedly cancelled all flights between the UK and Greek Cyprus until Thursday, as escalating conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt regional air travel.

The daily Cyprus Mail reported on Monday that the airline typically operates routes from Larnaca Airport to London Gatwick and from Paphos Airport to both London Gatwick and Manchester. Flights to Berlin appear unaffected, the newspaper said.

The cancellations follow wider disruption across the island’s two international airports.

The Paphos Airport was being evacuated on Monday after radar detected a suspicious object, according to a later report released by Kathimerini.

Authorities have not yet released additional information about the object's nature or whether flight operations have been affected.

According to Kathimerini on Sunday, 48 flights were cancelled on March 1-- 36 at Larnaca Airport and 12 at Paphos Airport.

Airport authorities said all services to and from Middle Eastern destinations were suspended due to growing security concerns.

Air carriers across Europe and the broader region have been adjusting flight paths and suspending select services in response to the deteriorating security environment.

Separately, a new "security threat" was declared at the UK's Akrotiri air force base in Greek Cyprus on Monday, Cyprus Mail reported.

According to the newspaper, the village of Akrotiri was also evacuated after British base authorities decided to evacuate the air force base, prompting authorities to follow suit for the nearby village. Other villages within the base area have not been evacuated.

Base personnel were reportedly instructed to return home, remain indoors, move away from windows, and take cover behind solid furniture until further notice.

On Sunday, an Iranian drone crashed into a British RAF base in Greek Cyprus, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides has said -- without causing big damage or casualties.

The incident occurred after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK had agreed to a US request to use British military bases for "defensive" strikes.