Ercan Airport in Northern Cyprus Exceeds Five Million Passengers, Boosts Economy
Key Points
- 1Ercan Airport served over 5.29 million passengers in the first 11 months, boosting Northern Cyprus's economy.
- 2Passenger traffic increased 20.2% and flight operations rose 23% compared to the previous year's period.
- 3Ercan is now the island's second busiest airport, surpassing Paphos but behind Larnaca.
- 4Efforts for direct flights to Azerbaijan face international law challenges, requiring Republic of Cyprus approval.
Ercan (Tymbou) Airport in Northern Cyprus recorded a significant increase in passenger traffic during the first 11 months of this year, with over 5.29 million passengers passing through its gates. This figure represents a 20.2% rise compared to the same period last year, when 4.4 million passengers were served. Commercial flight movements also saw a substantial increase of 23%, reaching 34,345 operations.
The surge in passenger numbers is anticipated to provide a considerable boost to the region's tourism sector and overall economic activity. Ercan Airport now stands as the island's second busiest aviation hub, surpassing Paphos Airport (3.6 million passengers) but trailing Larnaca Airport in the Republic of Cyprus, which handled over 9.3 million passengers during the same period.
Currently, Ercan Airport's international connectivity is limited to 12 destinations within Turkey, served by five airlines. Despite these restrictions, authorities are actively pursuing efforts to establish direct flights to Azerbaijan, with discussions reportedly underway with Azerbaijan Airlines. However, these initiatives face significant hurdles due to international aviation law, as highlighted by Turkish Cypriot air traffic controllers. They assert that any aircraft seeking to land at Ercan requires explicit permission from the Republic of Cyprus, emphasizing the need for a political resolution, such as a federal solution to the Cyprus problem, to unlock the airport's full potential.
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