Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

I think most will have read the recent article regarding the privatization of Ercan and the enormous increase in costs particularly for the airlines. I have copied this article rom LGC News - http://www.lgcnews.com/ercan-expensive- ... s-pegasus/

"In a press conference held by the Private Airline Carriers Association at the Merit Hotel yesterday, Chairman of the Association and General Manager of Pegasus Turkey, Sertac Haybat outlined various issues surrounding Ercan.

He said that, in general, operating costs for all airport users had gone up substantially. These were due to the introduction of steep price increases by the company that had won the privatisation contract. Mr Haybat added that the price increases did not reflect any additions to services or an improvement in existing services.

He gave an example by saying that for a TL 100 ticket, 50% went to the airport operator. He felt that Pegasus had to respond to these increases but did not want to take the route of reducing flights as this would harm tourism."

Where was the government brain cell when the airport was given away, it certainly appears that the aim is to get Ercan closed down and for everyone to use Larnanca. If one of the main users of Ercan is making the comments above will the new airport management listen or will they continue with their wrecking crew.

The words "shoot", "own" and "foot" spring to mind.

It would appear that this man is off on another negative crusade and running something down again.

It would seem he hasnt read the major news stories lately.....
A) There is snow and freezing temperatures in the UK
B)Greek Cyprus is bust!

Please can we have a little positivity for a change or you could even go to the two aforementioned places where obviously you seem to think the grass is greener.

What are you talking about. We have a local airport that is being run down for whatever reasons by a government that has not a clue. You either do not live here or do not care about your local airport. After all this forum is THE KIBCOM NORTH CYPRUS FORUM not the Greek Cyprus or UK forum. The only reason I would worry about the snow in UK is if my 82 year old father is OK and that is not a discussion point for a north Cyprus forum. CLOWN!!!!

Nobody is running anything down in fact the opposite, it is a plea to people to fight for our local airport before it is closed down by foolish bureaucrats.

If you have nothing better to do than moan about what I post then you are a very sad individual!!!!

I always find that after all the posturing and headline grabbing by the various parties there is usually a rethink, a couple of U turns and things don't turn out so bad in the end!

One hopes so jonnie especially after reading this further article. It is not just Pegasus, so if people do not voice their opinions then nothing will change and we will loose our airport services. -

Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (27.03.13) reports that the top managers of the airlines Pegasus, Onur Air and Atlas Jet criticized the new prices at Ercan airport and warned the TRNC government that if they do not step back, they may even suspend their flights.

According to the paper, the top managers of the three airlines held a joint press conference yesterday at Merit hotel in Lefkosia, where they reacted to the new price policy at Ercan airport.They stressed that with this new policy the “TRNC is squeezing its own leg”, adding that they will also sabotage the air carrying agent, which contributes to the 90% of their economy. It is also reported that Ercan airport is the most expensive airport of all the in Turkey.


SertacHaybat, General Director of Pegasus airlines, said that it is not correct to increase the service prices without increasing also the service quality in the airport.

He also said that they are against the privatization of the airport, adding that that they were not informed on this issue.

We are flying into Ercan in May and again in September with Pegasus but it sounds like Larnaca after that.

Thank you for the info cyprusishome!

I sincerely hope it is not Larnaca for you esentepe7. I believe Ercan has a future but not under the current regime. You just have to look at the destinations that Onur are flying charters to to see that people want to visit North Cyprus. Did you know there are regular charters to places like Tehran and Prague, plus there are flights to Holland, Finland, Russia etc.

From talking to others it was obvious what privatizing Ercan would do and we all hoped it would not happen but here we are, potentially on the brink of three major operators pulling out. Airline cost margins are not great so unless the government brain cell is used carefully North Cyprus will end up with a ferry service only in future.