Jordan–Cyprus air bridge launched amid regional disruption

Daily flights between Jordan and Cyprus will operate during the upcoming Passover period, as Israeli travel company ISSTA moves to address restricted air capacity and rising demand for outbound travel.

The temporary “air bridge” will connect Aqaba airport with Paphos from March 30 to April 8, offering an alternative route for travellers affected by limitations at Tel Aviv’s main airport.

The initiative follows ongoing operational constraints in Israel, including caps on passenger numbers per flight and reduced activity by foreign airlines, which have significantly limited available seats.

ISSTA said the new arrangement is designed “to meet the increased demand for short holidays abroad at a time when flight availability from Israel remains limited”.

Under the plan, passengers will be transported overland from Israel to Jordan, where they will board flights to Cyprus operated by Electra Airways.

The company has also arranged visa facilitation and full travel coordination, providing what it described as a structured and continuous travel process from departure to arrival.

The approach aims to bypass bottlenecks in Israel’s airspace while maintaining access to nearby destinations.

The use of Aqaba as an alternative departure point is an established practice, though its importance has grown in recent weeks amid heightened geopolitical tensions and disruption to standard flight schedules following the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.