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Parliament Prepares Vote on Revised Operating Hours for Recreational Venues Amid Industry Divide

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 13, 2025

The final draft for the legislation governing recreational centers now rests with Parliament. Lawmakers are set to present the proposal for approval at an extraordinary session. Despite a two‐week consultation period granted by the Parliamentary Commerce Committee to the government and affected agencies, the discussions have so far failed to yield a unified stance.

Proposed Regulatory Changes

The reintroduced bill, which is once again slated for debate before the Commerce Committee, outlines specific operating hours for various categories of establishments. Among the key provisions are:

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Restaurants, Taverns, Pizzerias, Cafes, and Snack Bars: Permitted to operate daily from 6:00 a.m. until 1:30 a.m.
Pubs and Bars: Authorized to operate from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 a.m.
Indoor Banquet Halls and Reception Venues: Allowed to function every day from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 a.m. the next day.
Outdoor Reception Areas: Authorized operating hours from 8:00 a.m. until 1:30 a.m.
Nightclubs: Indoor venues can function daily from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., while outdoor venues must close by 1:30 a.m.
Discos and Cabarets: Permitted to operate from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. the following day.

Industry Reactions and Concerns

Preliminary submissions to Parliament reveal significant industry dissent. The Pan-Cypriot Association of Recreation Center Owners (ΠΑΣΙΚΑ) rejects the differentiation in operating hours, especially the inclusion of banquet halls under extended operational status. They warn that the bill could trigger cascading effects by reducing revenues for taverns, restaurants, bars, and breweries, thereby jeopardizing small businesses and endangering local employment.

Similarly, the Paphos Recreation Center Owners Association (ΣΙΚΑΠ) has voiced its opposition. According to the group, the proposed legislation favors a narrow segment of large enterprises while threatening the survival of hundreds of neighborhood venues, particularly in non-touristic locales and areas with traditionally modest business scales. The association is urging lawmakers to consider amendments that reduce both the extended hours and associated penalties, calling for a limitation of powers granted to the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and the exclusion of less frequented regions.

Divergent Views Within the Sector

In contrast, the Ammochostos Recreation Center Owners Association (ΣΙΚΑΑ) supports the general direction of the bill, even as it calls for further revisions. The association distances itself from what it describes as sweeping and alarmist criticism. According to ΣΙΚΑΑ, many industry representatives see the bill’s core provisions as beneficial for modernizing and streamlining sector operations, while still acknowledging that certain details, such as the designated operating hours for dining venues, warrant further refinement.

Closing Remarks

During previous debates, the General Director of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, Kostas Konstantinou, indicated that all avenues for consultation have been exhausted, noting that discussions on the draft have persisted since 2018. With mounting pressure from industry stakeholders, members of the Commerce Committee have already signaled that the forthcoming debate may be held in a closed session, underscoring the high stakes inherent in these proposed changes.

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Bird Aviation Signs Long-Term EasyJet Maintenance Deal In Cyprus

Bird Aviation has signed a long-term agreement with easyJet to provide scheduled aircraft maintenance services at its Larnaca facilities, expanding the companies’ existing partnership and securing maintenance work in Cyprus for at least seven years.

Seven-Year Maintenance Agreement

The agreement runs for an initial seven years, with an option to extend for a further three years, Bird Aviation said.

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Under the contract, the company will operate two maintenance lines dedicated to scheduled heavy maintenance checks for easyJet’s Airbus A320 family aircraft. All work will be carried out at Bird Aviation’s facilities in Larnaca.

Expanding An Existing Partnership

Bird Aviation said the agreement builds on its long-standing relationship with easyJet and provides a long-term framework for heavy maintenance services. The company added that the contract strengthens the role of its Larnaca base in supporting easyJet’s fleet maintenance programme.

EasyJet Reports Lower Profit

The agreement comes as easyJet faces a more challenging operating environment. The airline recently reported that pre-tax profit fell 70% to £85 million in the April-to-June quarter, compared with £286 million a year earlier, largely because of a £105 million increase in fuel costs following renewed conflict in the Middle East.

The airline also said customers are booking flights closer to departure, affecting the timing of revenue. However, booking trends have improved during the peak summer season, although easyJet said the outlook remains dependent on late-season demand and fuel prices.

Takeover Bid And Industry Challenges

EasyJet is also the subject of competing takeover bids from two U.S. investment firms. The board initially accepted a £5.5 billion offer from Castlelake before recommending Apollo Global Management’s higher £5.7 billion proposal. Any transaction could face scrutiny under European Union airline ownership rules.

Meanwhile, Ryanair also reported weaker earnings, with quarterly profit falling 34% to €538 million after higher jet fuel costs during the Iran conflict. Despite the higher costs, both airlines said demand strengthened during the summer travel season.

“Pricing has been attractive, driving strong late booking demand for our flights and holidays,” easyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis said.

“Our recent experience is that bookings become strong in the month of departure,” he said. “So I expect that as we move through August, bookings will be above where they were at this time last year.”