ISTANBUL - Turkish Airlines (THY) will re-start flights to Ercan Airport in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as of Tuesday, THY officials said.
THY said that Ercan Airport in Lefkosa, TRNC was closed to air traffic on September 10, 2002 to be renovated.
THY officials noted that THY would resume scheduled flights to Ercan Airport as of 7.00 p.m. on Tuesday.
Ercan Airport, which has been renovated in line with international standards and the capacity of which has been increased with Turkey's assistance, was re-opened to transportation on Monday after it was closed for about two years.
TRNC President Rauf Denktas, TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener and Turkish Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim attended the opening ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sener said that Turkey wanted embargoes imposed on Turkish Cypriots to be lifted and international airline companies to start flights to Ercan Airport.
TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said that Ercan Airport was ready for international flights, adding that TRNC expected and asked international airline companies to start direct flights to Ercan Airport.
International air traffic to TRNC should start after Ercan Airport had been renovated, Turkish Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim said during the ceremony.
(BRC-AÖ) 11.05.2004