It was reported in ch-aviation media last month that Turkish Airlines is seeking approval for increased flights from Australia.  Greek communities have expressed concern that a possible destination of any increased flights will be Turkish Occupied Cyprus, which remains unrecognised by the UN.

Transport Minister Catherine King’s office has told Neos Kosmos that no application has been received yet from the airline.

Other sources have told Neos Kosmos that members of the Turkish community, including influential ALP power brokers, have been lobbying for Turkish Airlines’ expansion and the inclusion of occupied Cyprus as a destination.

Turkish Airlines flies to the most destinations out of any airline in the world and was expected to name Melbourne as the 130th destination. Turkish Airlines intends to start tri-weekly flights to Australia via Singapore Changi later this year.

The current bilateral air services agreement means that Turkish Airlines can operate up to seven weekly round trips between Australia and Turkey.

CEO Ahmet Bolat proposed increasing this to 14 roundtrip services a week that would include daily flights to Sydney and Melbourne. He stressed the need for fifth freedom rights for ticket sales between Australia and Singapore was crucial for economic viability.

Bolat, as reported in ch-aviation, during his visit to Melbourne last month said: “There are some legal issues that we have to solve between the Turkish government and the Australian government.”

Concerns have been voiced to Neos Kosmos regarding potential flights from Australia, through Singapore, to the unrecognised occupied north of Cyprus.

Ercan International Airport serves the occupied north of Cyprus, but it is only accessible via flights from Turkey due to international restrictions.

Key leaders of the Greek and Cypriot community expressed concerns that Turkey might use this as an avenue to establish destination routes to the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus, thus undermining UN resolutions and agreements.

A Greek community leader who wished to remain anonymous, for now, told Neos Kosmos: “The Greek community welcomed expanded Turkish Airlines flights; however, Minister Catherine King must recognise the concerns of the Greek and Cypriot communities if flights are directed to the occupied part of Cyprus.

“We must protect our commitment to UN resolutions.”

Britain rejects Turkish petition for direct flights to Occupied Cyprus

The Turkish diaspora in the UK, in September 2020, served the British Parliament a petition with up to 13,000 signatures calling for direct flights to occupied northern Cyprus.

The petition states: “Our Government needs to support direct flights to Northern Cyprus. The UK has around 300,000 residents of Turkish Cypriot heritage. Direct flights should create more free flow travel and ease access for the disabled and vulnerable. In return offer British citizens their free choice of travel.”

The petition states that given Britain has completed Brexit; it should no longer be restricted by EU’s 1994 embargo on direct flights to the occupied part of Cyprus.

“If we have completed Brexit, we would like to see the UK authorise a direct flight from the UK to Northern Cyprus without the EU’s interference. Direct flights should boost tourism as this direct flight has never been in effect.”

The UK Parliament has rejected the petition stating that it 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.”

The parliamentary response to the petition adds that as a result, “the UK Government cannot negotiate an Air Services Agreement with the administration in the north of Cyprus.”

It adds that direct flights, “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.”

It added that “it would be unlawful for the Government to authorise direct flights to the northern part of Cyprus.”

Neos Kosmos will continue to follow the story and provide updates on any developments.