Safety and security up to scratch at airports

SECURITY in both Cyprus’ airports is working “very well” and in line with the EU standards, Communications Minister Efthymios Flourentzos said yesterday.

The minister was speaking during a visit of the island’s main airport in Larnaca, to get a first-hand view of how the airport operates.

“I’ve visited the baggage area where there is a very high level of security and there is no reason for concern,” Flourentzos said. He said the security guidelines followed are those set by the European Commission. 

The minister added that the authorities’ effort was to try and predict the likelihood of anything going wrong and dealing with it ahead of time.

Flourentzos also met officials from airport operator Hermes and the Civil Aviation Department.

“Larnaca and Paphos airports play an important role in the economy, they are where people come and go from Cyprus,” he added.

Flourentzos stressed that the airports are always on the ministry’s list of priorities.

After the meeting Flourentzos was presented with a map of Cyprus in 1877 by head of the Hermes board Iakovos Iakovou, a year before it was handed over to the British.