Ercan International Airport

File:Ercan_Airport_North_Cyprus_008.JPG

The precursor of Ercan Airport, Tymbou Airport, was constructed by the British in World War II as a military airport, during their colonial rule of the island. Following the Turkish invasion of 1974 and the partition of the island, it was taken over by the Turkish army, and today is used as the main civilian airport of Northern Cyprus. It is named after {{ill|Fehmi Ercan|tr|Fehmi Ercan}}.[https://blog.turkishairlines.com/en/turkiyes-gateway-to-tnrc-the-new-nicosia-ercan-international-airport/ Türkiye's gateway to TNRC: The new Nicosia Ercan International Airport], Turkish Airlines Blog

Since 2006, the rule which stipulates that flights are required to touch down at a Turkish airport before continuing to and from Ercan has been under discussion. In 2006, the Turkish government began discussions for Northern Cyprus' main port of Famagusta, and main civilian airport Ercan, to be able to operate direct connections, with the UK government describing it as a "significant and creative offer".{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6216498.stm | title=Turkey "will open up to Cyprus" | date=7 December 2006 | work=BBC News | access-date=6 February 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325040635/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6216498.stm | archive-date=25 March 2012 | url-status=live }}

However, {{As of|2024|lc=y}}, the rule still applies, and Ercan airport has seen a decrease in customers, as a result of new tight security measures imposed by the UK Department for Transport questioning the status of the airport and forcing passengers travelling between Britain and Northern Cyprus to disembark with their luggage and go through a fresh security check in Turkey in order to board a new aircraft for their final destination.

Plans have been completed to enlarge the airport in order to increase capacity. Ercan Airport had a {{convert|2755|m}} long runway and an apron with a capacity of seven aircraft. Although the runway was long enough for large planes to land, it was not long enough for take-offs. The plan has been for the construction of a new runway of {{convert|3200|m}} and extension of the existing runway to 3200 m, apron and terminal building and with the planned new apron more than doubling the current plane capacity.{{cite web| url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/finance/10651015.asp?scr=1| title=Northern Cyprus airport for sale| date=27 December 2008| publisher=Hurriyet| access-date=27 December 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014112610/http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/finance/10651015.asp?scr=1| archive-date=14 October 2012| url-status=live}} In 2021, the new terminal was under construction, planned to be much larger than the existing airport and to have 9 airbridges.{{Cite web|url=https://northcyprusinternational.com/north-cyprus-international-ercan-airport/|title=North Cyprus International Ercan Airport Upgrade Project|date=25 October 2019}} The new terminal and extended runway were opened on 20 July 2023,{{cite web |title=KKTC Cumhurbaşkanlığı - Ercan Havalimanı Yeni Terminal ve Pisti'nin açılış töreninde konuşan Cumhurbaşkanı Tatar uluslararası camiaya seslendi |url=https://www.kktcb.org/tr/ercan-havalimani-yeni-terminal-ve-pistinin-acilis-toreninde-konusan-cumhurbaskani-11320 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731084340/https://www.kktcb.org/tr/ercan-havalimani-yeni-terminal-ve-pistinin-acilis-toreninde-konusan-cumhurbaskani-11320 |archive-date=31 July 2023}} after delays,{{cite web |date=18 April 2023 |title=Further delay for new terminal at airport in north | Cyprus Mail |url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2023/04/18/further-delay-for-new-terminal-at-airport-in-north/}} with a power outage less than 12 hours after the opening. The first flight to the new terminal was made by Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.{{Cite web |title=Everything you need to know about the new Ercan – Cyprus' largest airport |url=https://www.t-vine.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-ercan-cyprus-largest-airport/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=www.t-vine.com |language=en-GB}}{{cite web |title="Havalimanı'nın 15 Kasım'da açılabilmesi için gece-gündüz çalışılıyor" |url=https://www.gundemkibris.com/kibris/havalimaninin-15-kasimda-acilabilmesi-icin-gece-gunduz-h350279.html |language=tr}}

Flights to and from the airport are banned internationally due to the ongoing Cyprus dispute.{{cite news|title=Students Flock to Universities in Northern Cyprus|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/17/world/europe/students-flock-to-universities-in-northern-cyprus.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date = 16 February 2014|access-date=25 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905165507/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/17/world/europe/students-flock-to-universities-in-northern-cyprus.html?_r=0|archive-date=5 September 2015|url-status=live|last1 = Güsten|first1 = Susanne}} Non-stop flights only take place from Turkey, and all planes that fly to Northern Cyprus from other countries have to stop over in Turkey.{{cite news|title=Europe diary: Island isolation|date=8 December 2006|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6215410.stm|publisher=BBC|access-date=25 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914193616/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6215410.stm|archive-date=14 September 2015|url-status=live}} Because of these difficulties and inconveniences, the majority of Turkish Cypriots with Republic of Cyprus citizenship prefer to travel through Larnaca and Paphos airports, which are located in territory under the control of the internationally recognised government of the Republic of Cyprus; this option is not available, however, to Turkish citizens.{{Cite web|url=http://www.t-vine.com/larnaca-airport-bookings-soar-at-expense-of-ercan-following-uk-air-embargo/|title=Larnaca Airport bookings soar at expense of Ercan following UK air embargo – T-VINE|access-date=12 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216123611/http://www.t-vine.com/larnaca-airport-bookings-soar-at-expense-of-ercan-following-uk-air-embargo/|archive-date=16 December 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.kibrisgazetesi.com/yazarlar/emin-akkor/larnaka-istanbula-bile-ercandan-ucuzken/3102 |title=Larnaka, İstanbul'a bile Ercan'dan ucuzken |access-date=28 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215231343/https://www.kibrisgazetesi.com/yazarlar/emin-akkor/larnaka-istanbula-bile-ercandan-ucuzken/3102 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |url-status=live }} Nonetheless, several Turkish airlines operate direct flights from Ercan to Europe with intermediate stops in Turkey via some of the destinations listed below.

The Government of the Republic of Cyprus considers the use of Ercan Airport to enter or exit the island illegal,{{Cite web |title=Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus to the Hague - Tourism |url=http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/Embassies/embassy_thehague.nsf/All/4254DF2F0B871664C225792E001F2A27?OpenDocument#:~:text=Travellers%20arriving%20in%20the%20Republic,(Limassol),%20and%20Pafos. |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=www.mfa.gov.cy}} and could result in facing criminal charges when entering (or exiting) the Republic.

{{Airport-dest-list

| AJet{{cite web|url=https://www.anadolujet.com/en/corporate/flight-network|title=Flight network|website=anadolujet.com}} | Adana/Mersin,{{cite web | url=https://www.tgrthaber.com/aktuel/10-agustosta-adana-sakirpasa-havalimani-kapatiliyor-ucuslar-yeni-havalimanina-aktarilacak-2964974 | title=10 Ağustos'ta Adana Şakirpaşa Havalimanı kapatılıyor! Uçuşlar yeni havalimanına aktarılacak | date=3 August 2024 }}{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240313-vfns24|title=AJet NS24 New Flight Number Designations – 12MAR24|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=13 March 2024|accessdate=1 February 2025|language=en-ca}} Ankara, Antalya, Gaziantep, Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen, İzmir, Trabzon{{cite web|url=https://brtk.net/ercan-trabzon-seferleri-basliyor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106183557/https://brtk.net/ercan-trabzon-seferleri-basliyor/|title=Ercan-Trabzon seferleri başlıyor|trans-title=Ercan-Trabzon flights start|date=18 December 2022|access-date=1 November 2023|archive-date=6 January 2023|language=tr}}

| {{nowrap|Fly Kıbrıs Airlines}} | Adana/Mersin{{cite web | url=https://www.tgrthaber.com/aktuel/10-agustosta-adana-sakirpasa-havalimani-kapatiliyor-ucuslar-yeni-havalimanina-aktarilacak-2964974 | title=10 Ağustos'ta Adana Şakirpaşa Havalimanı kapatılıyor! Uçuşlar yeni havalimanına aktarılacak | date=3 August 2024 }}{{bsn|date=November 2024}}, Ankara{{cn|date=November 2024}}, Antalya{{cn|date=November 2024}}, Diyarbakır {{cn|date=October 2024}}, Istanbul{{cn|date=November 2024}}, İzmir{{cn|date=November 2024}}, Ordu-Giresun{{cn|date=October 2024}}
Seasonal: Bodrum

| Pegasus Airlines | Adana/Mersin,{{cite web | url=https://www.tgrthaber.com/aktuel/10-agustosta-adana-sakirpasa-havalimani-kapatiliyor-ucuslar-yeni-havalimanina-aktarilacak-2964974 | title=10 Ağustos'ta Adana Şakirpaşa Havalimanı kapatılıyor! Uçuşlar yeni havalimanına aktarılacak | date=3 August 2024 }} Ankara,{{Cite journal|author=|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=November 2023|volume=25|issue=5|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=44-45}} Antalya,{{Cite journal|author=|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=November 2023|volume=25|issue=5|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=45-47}} Gaziantep,{{Cite journal|author=|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=Ercan|date=November 2023|volume=25|issue=5|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=350}} Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen, İzmir, Kayseri,{{Cite web|url=https://centreforaviation.com/news/pegasus-airlines-to-launch-dalaman-beirut-and-kayseri-ercan-services-in-summer-2022-1121920|title=News for Airlines, Airports and the Aviation Industry | CAPA}} Trabzon (Begins 11 May 2025){{Cite web|url=https://mediap.flypgs.com/1920/files/ana_sayfa_hero_banner/TR/2025/brand/trabzon_kibris/guncel/desktop_web_slider.jpg|title=New route between Trabzon and KKTC}}

| SunExpress{{cite web |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=SunExpress S20 new routes as of 23DEC19 |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/288348/sunexpress-s20-new-routes-as-of-23dec19/ |website=Routesonline |access-date=24 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224171156/https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/288348/sunexpress-s20-new-routes-as-of-23dec19/ |archive-date=24 December 2019 |url-status=live }} | İzmir{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230727-xqnw23ecn|title=SunExpress Resumes Izmir – Ercan Service in NW23|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=27 July 2023|accessdate=3 February 2025|language=en-ca}}

|Turkish Airlines | Antalya, Istanbul{{Cite journal|author=|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=November 2023|volume=25|issue=5|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=463-470}}

}}

{{Airport-Statistics|iata=ECN}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category-inline|Ercan International Airport}}

• {{GCM|LCEN|source=DAFIF}}
• {{NWS-current|LCEN}}
• {{ASN|ECN}}

{{Portalbar|Cyprus|Aviation}}

{{List of airports in Northern Cyprus}}

{{Airports in Cyprus}}

{{List of airports in Europe}}

{{Asia in topic|List of airports in}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Airports in Northern Cyprus

Category:Airports in Cyprus

Category:Transport in Nicosia