Cyprus Airways is the flag carrier airline of Cyprus, originally founded in 1947 as a joint venture between the Cyprus government and British European Airways. The original airline operated for decades before facing severe financial difficulties, ultimately ceasing operations in January 2015 after the European Commission ruled that state aid it had received was illegal. A new Cyprus Airways was relaunched in 2016 under private ownership, operating as a smaller regional carrier focused on connecting Larnaca to European destinations. The revived airline aimed to fill the gap left by the original carrier's collapse and restore the historic brand to the skies. The current incarnation of Cyprus Airways operates a modest fleet serving leisure and business travelers across Europe, with Larnaca International Airport serving as its primary base of operations.