Eerie photographs have unveiled the interior of an abandoned airport that has been deserted for close to fifty years, showcasing decaying terminals and aircraft left in neglect.
Nicosia International Airport, formerly a prominent entrance to Cyprus, now stands desolate and empty, serving as a haunting reminder of a destructive conflict that tore through the island. Initially established in the 1930s as an RAF base, the location evolved into the primary civilian airport for the island.
After a Turkish invasion in 1974, the airport turned into a battleground and endured severe bombing during intense conflict. Subsequently, a ceasefire was arranged, leading to the airport’s designation as a United Nations Protected Area, its boundaries now forming part of the island’s buffer zone.
While commercial flights struggled to continue, a pivotal moment occurred in 1977 when three Cyprus Airways planes stranded on the runway were eventually airlifted out by British Airways engineers. Despite these efforts, the airport never managed to recover fully and has remained virtually untouched, frozen in time as a relic of war.
Within the terminal today, dusty rows of chairs remain where passengers once waited, while weathered advertisement boards still promise exotic vacations to remote destinations. The only echoes now are the cooing of pigeons, as nature slowly reclaims this once vibrant hub.
On the tarmac, a deteriorating Hawker Siddeley Trident aircraft sits, its engine components long stripped and bearing the scars of past conflict.
Although regular passenger flights ceased long ago, the airport has not faded entirely from memory. Presently, it serves as the headquarters for the UN Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP), with some sections still utilized by helicopters.
Nevertheless, public access remains severely restricted due to safety concerns and decades of neglect, resulting in only a select few individuals catching glimpses of the dilapidated structures.
While aspirations for a revival have emerged over the years, discussions facilitated by the UN in the 1990s aimed at reopening the airport were stifled by political disputes, leading to no concrete agreement ever being reached.
Aleem Siddique, the spokesperson for the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus, conveyed to Reuters, “It is essentially frozen in time. Despite multiple attempts by both sides to negotiate reopening, restoring, and revitalizing the airport, no agreement was reached, leading to a gradual deterioration in its condition.”
He added, “No aircraft have departed or arrived since 1974.”
Thanks to a digital restoration initiative by the Cyprus Institute, the public can now virtually tour the airport. Through the “NIC Platform,” users can explore offices, duty-free areas, and jetways, all meticulously preserved online in a hauntingly detailed manner.
One local resident, living a short distance from the airport, managed to secure special permission for entry. Reflecting on the experience, he shared, “As a local who was just four years old during the invasion, stepping inside flooded me with indescribable emotions. It’s eerie, emotional, frustrating, and sad. Your mind can almost recreate the bustling airport ambiance with passengers, planes, and announcements. This stagnant time capsule is a tragedy that should have never come to pass.”
