Airport a relic frozen in time (photos, video)
Nicosia’s old airport has been left in a state of disrepair, with authorities only performing upkeep when necessary. The Cyprus News Agency (CNA) reported this after a guided tour, showing damage from the 1974 Turkish bombings, vandalism, and the overall deterioration of the once bustling travel hub. The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (Unficyp) is tasked with maintaining the status quo at the site, including the old Nicosia Airport, which lies within the buffer zone. Despite efforts, there has been no agreement on reopening the airport, with Unficyp continuing to patrol and maintain the area for safety. Maintenance of the airport and other infrastructure in UN-controlled areas is managed through an agreement between Unficyp and the Republic of Cyprus. Discussions on reopening the airport have not progressed since the early presidencies of George Vassiliou and Glafcos Clerides. Nicosia International Airport, operational from 1968 until 1974, now serves as Unficyp headquarters. The Turkish Air Force destroyed two Cyprus Airways airliners on the ground during the 1974 invasion, and only three flights have occurred since then.
