Newsroom
In a televised interview, Erhan Arikli, the so-called "minister of public works and transportation" in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus, stated that international accreditation procedures for the illegal Ercan (Tymbou) airport are expected to proceed after the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
Arikli indicated that, following the resolution of various technical deficiencies, a UK-based company is anticipated to conduct an inspection at the airport as part of efforts to obtain international accreditation. He claimed that a protocol related to this process would be signed shortly after Eid al-Adha.
“We aim to conclude the accreditation procedures within a few months,” he said, noting that all relevant parties would convene once technical preparations are completed.
He also referred to the possibility of adopting a model similar to that used in Turkey, where the State Airports Authority (DHMI) oversees various airports. According to Arikli, Ercan could operate under a comparable system and be opened to international traffic, citing examples such as Antalya-B and Cukurova-B airports.
Arikli further referenced the operational model of Batumi Airport in Georgia, which functions jointly with Turkish authorities, suggesting that a similar arrangement could be pursued for the occupied airport. He added that aligning domestic flight pricing regulations with those in Turkey could help stabilize airfares and support tourism and local development in the occupied areas.
With information from Kibris Gazetesi via Voice Cyprus News.
