Ercan flight data point to economic recovery
THE number of planes landing at Ercan airport increased by 220 per cent in June compared to the same month of 2021, according to a statement from the Public Works and Transport Ministry.
The number of passengers using Ercan was also up, by 390 per cent in the same period.
According to a written statement issued by the ministry, there were 1,057 arrivals and 1,051 departures at Ercan airport between June 1 and June 30, 2022.
While the total number of flights in June 2022 was 2,108, it was only 658 in June 2021, when travel was still subject to strict Covid-19 restrictions, both in the TRNC and in other countries.
The statement noted that the number of passengers arriving at Ercan airport was 132,800 and the number of passengers departing was 145,079 in June.
The statement added that the total weight of inbound and outbound cargo in June increased by 28.06 per cent compared to the same month of the previous year.
Meanwhile Public Works and Transport Minister Erhan Arıklı has said that test flights for the new Ercan airport terminal and runway could start on October 30, ahead of a planned opening of the terminal on November 15.
Dr Arıklı made the comments during a visit to the new terminal site last Friday, when he was accompanied by the Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoğlu, who was visiting the TRNC for a series of high-level contacts.