Major flights from Britain and other European countries were diverted when a major Cyprus airport had to be shut down till the malfunctioning lights at its runway could be effectively repaired.

As confirmed by the Airport operator Hermes spokesman Adamos Aspris, as many as 14 inbound flights to the nation's major Larnaca airport, flying in from Britain, Germany, Greece and the Netherlands, among other countries, had to be diverted to the island's secondary Paphos airport, which is located around 70 miles west.

Another flight had to be diverted further away to Beirut, Lebanon, some 130 miles south-east of Larnaca.

The new terminal of the airport had officially opened only last month and it uses the same runway as the now non-operational terminal which is nearly half a mile away. The runway lights, as confirmed by the spokesperson, were an older installation.

Technicians are now running tests on the lights to ensure that they are fit enough for the airport to be reopened.