Newsroom
A new flight route from London Stansted to the occupied airport of Tymbou in the northern part of Cyprus began operations on August 5, with a stopover in Istanbul or Ankara. The route is part of the recently launched “Island Cyprus” initiative and is operated by AJet, a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines.
The service is aimed at increasing tourism in the areas of Cyprus not under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus. Heavily promoted in Turkish Cypriot media, the campaign includes subsidized round-trip fares from the United Kingdom starting at £250. Organizers have set a target of increasing tourism revenue in the occupied areas by 50% by 2026.
At a launch event in London, Turkish Cypriot representative Ünal Üstel described the flights as a “historic step,” while thanking Turkey for its continued economic and logistical support. Üstel, who is referred to as “prime minister” by the Turkish Cypriot administration, said the flights would help counter what he called international “embargoes.”
The so-called “minister of tourism,” Fikri Ataoğlu, said the flights would strengthen ties between younger generations of Turkish Cypriots in the UK and their family roots in Cyprus.
Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat said the airline views the UK as a key market and referred to the north of Cyprus as a culturally significant destination. Turkish actress Meryem Uzerli has been announced as the public face of the campaign.
In a related visit, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar met with British MP and UK Trade Envoy to Turkey Afzal Khan, who traveled to the occupied areas via the Tymbou airport. Tatar reiterated his long-standing support for a two-state solution in Cyprus and praised the presence of Turkish troops in the north, saying they have maintained peace for over five decades.
Khan stated that his visit was encouraged by constituents in Manchester and emphasized the importance of continued peace and dialogue. He did not comment on the political status of the areas he visited.
The airport in Tymbou, known internationally as Ercan, is located in the part of Cyprus occupied by Turkish forces since 1974. Flights to and from Tymbou operate only via Turkey and are not recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
