TUS Airways: The Cypriot Airline That Became the Island's Largest

From regional operator to Cyprus's leading carrier

TUS Airways went through a phase of downsizing when Weinstein temporarily stepped away from running the airline, then returned to command in 2021 and set up the current hybrid model of scheduled and charter flights. Since then growth has been rapid, to the point of surpassing the other active Cypriot airlines in fleet size.

From turboprops to Airbuses

Originally the airline operated a mixed fleet of Saab 340s, Saab 2000s, Fokker 70s and Fokker 100s, typical of a niche regional carrier. Today it flies 5 Airbus A320s with 180 seats each, a choice that simplified maintenance and operations but also shifted the positioning toward longer, higher-capacity routes.

A network with Tel Aviv as an informal hub

Besides the two Cypriot bases, Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv works as an unofficial focus city, a sign of the historic ties between the founder and the Israeli market. The network combines scheduled routes with seasonal charter flights to Mediterranean and European destinations.

Lean fares, typical of the hybrid model

The fare model follows the low-cost approach now common in the eastern Mediterranean: base fare without checked baggage included, with surcharges for an assigned seat and extra baggage. For those traveling light between Cyprus and the nearest European destinations, the starting price remains competitive compared with traditional scheduled carriers.

What passengers say

Aspects appreciated:

• Competitive starting prices on direct routes from Larnaca and Paphos.
• A recent, uniform fleet after the switch to the A320s.

Aspects less appreciated:

• A network still less dense than the big European charter carriers on some seasonal routes.
• Customer service judged less responsive in the peak summer periods.

TUS Airways is useful for those who fly often between Cyprus and Israel or are looking for a convenient base fare to the main Mediterranean cities, less so for those who need a dense network of international connections.

Always check whether the route you are interested in is operated as a scheduled flight or as a seasonal charter: the change conditions and the number of weekly frequencies differ significantly between the two modes.