Direct Flights

[d1cxx]

The Government has responded to the petition you signed – “Authorise direct flights from the United Kingdom to North Cyprus (TRNC)”.

Government responded:

The UK Government has no plans to authorise direct flights between the UK and the north of Cyprus. Direct flights would breach obligations under international law.

The UK Government has no plans to authorise direct flights between the UK and the north of Cyprus. In accordance with the rest of the international community, the UK does not recognise the self-declared ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ as an independent state. The United Kingdom recognises the Republic of Cyprus as the sovereign authority for the island of Cyprus. As a result, the UK Government cannot negotiate an Air Services Agreement with the administration in the north of Cyprus.

The Republic of Cyprus has not designated any airport in the northern part of Cyprus with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); as such, no airports in that part of Cyprus are listed by ICAO as open for international traffic.

The UK High Court also ruled in 2009 (Kibris Türk Hava Yollari v Secretary of State for Transport) that allowing direct flights to Ercan airport in the north of Cyprus would breach our international legal obligations. This is because it would fail to respect the Republic of Cyprus’ rights under the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, including to choose which airports to designate as customs airports. This ruling was endorsed by the Court of Appeal in 2010.

In light of the above, it would be unlawful for the Government to authorise direct flights to the northern part of Cyprus.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

[Soner]

If Turkey/TRNC struck oil, their attitude would change overnight. The only way I can see ourselves out of this mess. I have my

[Keithcaley]

Fairly predictable!

...although I notice that Boris is not averse to " breaching obligations under international law" with regards to Brexit when it suits him!

[wanderer]

Until a deal is struck with the EU TRNC will not stand a chance of anything
Look at roc blocking EU sanctions against Belarus

[sophie]

Relevant to the other thread about Brexit submitted by KC, in many respects it sticks us well and truly in the EU camp doesn't it, so why the Green Line. Unless I've not picked up the nuances!

[Brinsley]

Fairly predictable!

...although I notice that Boris is not avarse to " breaching obligations under international law" with regards to Brexit when it suits him!

Spot on with that one!

However, there is a legal way of doing a 'non-stop' flight.
Plane leaves UK for Ercan via Izmir, descends to 1000 ft. over Izmir runway then climbs to cruising height destined for Ercan without touching the ground but is considered by international law to have landed. The drawback is higher fuel consumption and time but lawful.

[davedee]

For me I was happy when we did not have to leave the plane in Turkey, or indeed on the 22.10 from Stansted which sometimes forgot to land in Turkey

[Keithcaley]

For me I was happy when we did not have to leave the plane in Turkey, or indeed on the 22.10 from Stansted which sometimes forgot to land in Turkey

Yeah, I remember that... Happy days!

[davedee]

For me I was happy when we did not have to leave the plane in Turkey, or indeed on the 22.10 from Stansted which sometimes forgot to land in Turkey

Yeah, I remember that... Happy days!

I remember sitting next to a Cypriot on CTA flight pilot made an announcement in Turkish, lots applauded , the T.C next to me explained we were not landing in Turkey .

[sophie]

I can remember when all the TC's applauded just because we had landed in one piece regardless where we eventually landed.

[tonyandirene2]

Could an airline not be persuaded to fly from UK into Turkey, and land as we used to, but stay on the plane and then fly onto Ercan.

[sophie]

I think that was what Davedee was referring to tonyandirene2 - message 7

[Kay123]

While the U.K. maintain the bases in the south we are never going to be recognised. UK just suck upto ROC because they need those bases. If TRNC offered Gecitcale as a base for Uk or the Americans, I think things may change but I doubt that would ever happen.

[Brinsley]

It was the UK that deemed Ercan having inadequate security measures in place so insisted that all transit passengers had to alight in Turkey for rescreening security procedures.
What a lot of bullsh*t, as a seasoned traveller Ercan is as good or bad as anywhere else I've visited. Political pressure from a well healed anti-TRNC group with no justification or truth have yet again blinkered the inept ruling UK Government by fairy tales!

[Hector]

I can remember when all the TC's applauded just because we had landed in one piece regardless where we eventually landed.[/quote

I'm still laughing..

[Hair Cut]

Re: Brinsley quote :

"as a seasoned traveller Ercan is as good or bad as anywhere else I've visited. "

I think it all depends on the film the security guy is watching on his phone as you pass through.

[Sultan]

Remember flying with CTA and at the stopover on came a woman with a chicken which sat on her lap for the Ercan leg!

[sophie]

No I don't Sultan but I can remember a tiny little Chinese lady on way back from Beijing try and light a little cooker thingy to heat up a stew. I've never seen anyone run so quickly up and down the length of a huge plane with an upstairs and a downstairs. It took the aircrew a good 15 mins mins or so to catch her. Those were the days of little or no security checks.

[PoshinDevon]

Nairobi to Mombasa mid 60s. Aboard a Fokker Friendship aircraft for the 1 hr flight.

As well as passengers on board, there was a box of chickens and a goat! All safely seated in the passenger area.

Ten mins after airborne and yes a petrol driven cooker was fired up at the back of the aircraft and a family lunch prepared! The two stewardesses never bated an eyelid!