The Flight Safety Foundation – Southeast Europe – Cyprus (FSF-SE Europe-Cyprus), in cooperation with the Department of Civil Aviation of Cyprus, successfully organised a professional seminar bringing together aviation stakeholders to discuss the new EU ground handling safety framework and the preparations required ahead of its implementation in March 2028.

The seminar brought together perspectives from the European Commission, the Department of Civil Aviation, Hermes Airports and the wider aviation industry, combining regulatory updates with practical operational considerations.

Key topics included:

• EU ground handling policy and regulatory developments
• Cyprus’s preparations for the new EU/EASA safety framework
• Safety management, compliance and coordination between aviation stakeholders
• Workforce readiness, training, competency and operational safety
• Industry challenges and best practices for a smooth transition towards 2028

An FSF stakeholder survey provided useful insights into current implementation challenges, highlighting staffing pressures and the need for clearer regulatory guidance. These findings, together with the interactive stakeholder discussion, helped identify practical priorities for further consideration.

The seminar also highlighted the importance of early preparation, effective communication with the competent authority, stronger cooperation between ground handling organisations, airlines and airport operators, and a shared commitment to safety.

 Looking Ahead to 2028

The discussions laid the groundwork for a proposed Cyprus Ground Handling Implementation Roadmap, focusing on transition planning, personnel training and competency, regulatory guidance, safety management and stronger coordination across the aviation sector.

The Flight Safety Foundation – Southeast Europe – Cyprus remains committed to facilitating professional dialogue, promoting the exchange of good practices and supporting a strong safety culture across the aviation community.

Our sincere thanks to the Department of Civil Aviation of Cyprus, Hermes Airports, all speakers and every participant for their valuable contribution to this important discussion.