An abandoned airport has been deserted for more than 50 years, with its terminal still lined with seats and posters that once promised passengers flights to 'the ends of the earth'.
A Frozen Relic of the Past
Nicosia International Airport, originally built in the 1930s as a Royal Air Force station, later became Cyprus's main gateway, serving over 800,000 passengers. Its 2,707-meter runway once hosted flights to far-flung destinations. However, in 1974, the airport was bombed during a Turkish invasion, leading to its closure. A ceasefire designated the site as a United Nations Protected Area, forming part of the island's buffer zone.
Eerie Remains
Inside, dust-covered chairs and faded advertising posters remain in the departure lounges. Pigeons now inhabit the terminal, leaving droppings among the abandoned desks. The facade is partly boarded up, with broken windows and a faded name. On the runway, the decaying Hawker Siddeley Trident aircraft, still bearing bullet holes, serves as a stark reminder of the conflict. Its engines were stripped for repairs, leaving the fuselage to rot.
Off Limits to the Public
The airport remains strictly off-limits, now serving as a base for the UN Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP). Spokesperson Aleem Siddique noted, 'It is actually frozen in time... No planes have left or arrived since 1974.' Despite attempts to revive the airport, no agreement has been reached, leaving it largely untouched.
