Newsroom
A representative of Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus has attributed the high cost of flights to the occupied north to fees imposed at the illegal Tymbou Airport, rejecting suggestions that airlines are responsible for the expensive fares.
Speaking to the Turkish Cypriot newspaper Halkın Sesi, Pegasus representative Zeki Ziya said the airport's operating charges have become a major factor in airfare pricing since the facility was privatized.
His comments came after recent remarks by the self-styled "transport minister" of the occupied areas, Erhan Arıklı, who proposed classifying flights between Turkey and the occupied north as domestic Turkish flights.
Ziya argued that such a proposal is not practical under the current circumstances. He said domestic flights do not require immigration, customs or standard passenger processing, making the arrangement incompatible with the existing situation. He added that treating flights as domestic and applying domestic tax rates are separate issues that should not be confused.
According to Ziya, airlines previously benefited from exemptions on accommodation and ground-handling fees for flights between Turkey and the occupied north, while the authorities in the occupied areas also offered a 50 per cent discount. He said these concessions ended after the airport was privatized, significantly increasing operating costs. He added that he had warned the relevant authorities before the changes were introduced, but his advice was ignored.
Ziya also criticised the application of VAT to departure charges, describing it as an additional burden that feeds directly into ticket prices. He said airlines cannot be expected to offer very low fares while these costs remain in place.
Responding to criticism over ticket prices, he said the authorities could refuse to issue flight permits if they wished, but stressed that no airline would continue operating services that generate financial losses. If routes became unprofitable, he said, Pegasus would suspend its flights.
Ziya also recalled Pegasus' involvement in discussions following the collapse of Turkish Cypriot Airlines (KTHY). He said the airline had reached an agreement with the administration of the time to purchase a 50 per cent stake in KTHY, but claimed the late Turkish Cypriot leader İrsen Küçük later requested an additional US$5 million after the deal had been announced.
Pegasus declined to pay the extra amount, and the agreement was eventually concluded with another company. Ziya said that experience has left the airline reluctant to enter fresh discussions on establishing a new national carrier in the occupied north.
