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Ercan International Airport

Since 2006, the rule which stipulates that flights are required to touch down at a Turkish airport before continuing to and from Ercan has been under discussion. In 2006, the Turkish government began discussions for Northern Cyprus' main port of Famagusta, and main civilian airport Ercan, to be able to operate direct connections, with the UK government describing it as a "significant and creative offer".

However, , the rule still applies, and Ercan airport has seen a decrease in customers, In 2021, the new terminal was under construction, planned to be much larger than the existing airport and to have 9 airbridges. The new terminal and extended runway were opened on 20 July 2023, after delays, with a power outage less than 12 hours after the opening. The first flight to the new terminal was made by Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Airlines and destinations

International status

Flights to and from the airport are banned internationally due to the ongoing Cyprus dispute. Non-stop flights only take place from Turkey, and all planes that fly to Northern Cyprus from other countries have to stop over in Turkey. Because of these difficulties and inconveniences, the majority of Turkish Cypriots with Republic of Cyprus citizenship prefer to travel through Larnaca and Paphos airports, which are located in territory under the control of the internationally recognised government of the Republic of Cyprus; this option is not available, however, to Turkish citizens. Nonetheless, several Turkish airlines operate direct flights from Ercan to Europe with intermediate stops in Turkey via some of the destinations listed below. and could result in facing criminal charges when entering (or exiting) the Republic.

Overview

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See also

  • Embargo against Northern Cyprus

References

  • Accident history for ECN at Aviation Safety Network