Black Sea city flights take off
DIRECT flights between Ercan airport and the Turkish Black Sea city of Trabzon began this week.
The first flight from Trabzon, on Turkey’s north-eastern coast, landed at Ercan airport at 9.35am on Tuesday, with the return flight carrying members of the press and passengers from the TRNC landing at Trabzon airport later in the day.
The Turkish Airlines-operated AnadoluJet flight had been due to take off from Trabzon on Monday evening but was delayed by bad weather.
The passengers from North Cyprus were greeted at Trabzon airport by TRNC Trabzon consul Erek Çağatay, officials from Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality and airport and airline officials.
Welcoming the passengers, Mr Çağatay expressed his hope that the direct flights will be successful and contribute to the economy, especially tourism.
Mr Çağatay said the Ercan-Trabzon direct flights, which are scheduled to operate twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, will also slash travel time and costs.
Previously the only way to travel to and from Trabzon was via other Turkish cities such as İstanbul and Ankara.
Earlier in the year members of the TRNC Black Sea Association held a protest outside the Lefkoşa offices of Turkish Airlines demanding direct flights.
Public Works and Transport Minister Erhan Arıklı, who is originally from Turkey’s north-eastern region, said the flights began thanks to an initiative between him and Turkey’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoğlu.
Dr Arıklı said there is “great demand from TRNC citizens, especially among those from the Black Sea, to start flights to Trabzon” and that he was “very happy” with the result of his efforts.
“With these flights, our Black Sea brothers and sisters will have the chance to get to know and experience the TRNC more closely and Turkish Cypriots will have the same opportunity for the Black Sea,” he said.
“This bridge we have built has opened the doors to mutual tourism and cultural sharing between Trabzon and the TRNC.”