Turkish airline offers special fare for service between London, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Turkish low-cost air carrier AJet has announced a special fare of £250 ($330) for round-trip tickets from London to Ercan Airport in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as part of its support for the Cyprus Island campaign.

The launch of the special fare was held in London with the participation of Turkish Cypriot Prime Minister Unal Ustel, Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Environment Minister Fikri Ataoglu, Turkish Ambassador to London Osman Koray Ertas; Turkish Airlines and AJet Chair Ahmet Bolat, and many guests.

The Cyprus Island campaign aims to promote touristic activities in the region.

Ustel said at the event that they would build a bridge between London and the TRNC, saying: "Today we are making a political breakthrough, at a very reasonable price, to end this longing and bring you together with the people there."

He added: "We are doing this to free you from the captivity of the Greek Cypriot Administration. We are implementing this beautiful project with Türkiye and Turkish Airlines."

He added: "We want our people to come to the TRNC via Türkiye with this project and enjoy their vacation.”

Ercan Airport has recently seen a 50% increase in passenger numbers, he said.

Ustel stressed that the main reason for this is Turkish Airlines and its subsidiary AJet, which have approximately 600 flights per month, and with the new service this number should double.

Ataoglu, also the Turkish Cypriot deputy prime minister, emphasized that they have been working on the project for a long time, saying that thanks to Turkish Airlines and AJet, people will be able to visit their ancestral homeland, the TRNC, much more actively.

Ataoglu said the special fare set for AJet flights from London to the TRNC will be valid for one year and that this is just the beginning.

He added: “Our wish is for you to be able to visit your ancestral lands much more comfortably and easily with these prices, and for the south, which has been preferred for so many years … to no longer be preferred. The island of Cyprus is calling you.”

- Spotlight on TRNC culture, natural beauty, historical heritage

Separately, Bolat said: “The TRNC is not just a destination for us; it is a brotherhood with which we share a common history, culture, and values.”

Bolat expressed their desire for the TRNC to take its rightful place on the international stage, saying the new project will serve as a platform to showcase the TRNC's beauty through the opportunities provided by AJet.

He said they want to make the TRNC's unique island culture, natural beauty, historical heritage, and culinary richness visible on a global scale, adding: "As part of the Cyprus Island project, we will continue our affordable pricing policy between London Stansted Airport and the TRNC for one year under our AJet brand.

"Thus, the round-trip ticket fare of £250 for flights from Stansted to TRNC via Türkiye will not only make travel easier but also bring Turkish Cypriots living in the UK closer to their homeland and make the TRNC an attractive destination for British tourists."

With the agreement signed last week in the presence of Tatar, Turkish Airlines announced its strategic support for the project, Bolat said.

"I sincerely believe that the steps taken under the agreement and our support will not only position the TRNC as a tourism destination but also as a center of culture, production, and investment," he added.

Bolat said the UK has always been a priority market and an important country for Turkish Airlines, and expressed his belief that the new campaign will encourage British tourists to discover the beauty of TRNC.

Bolat said a well-known Turkish actress will appear in a promotional film for the project, adding: “With the addition of Meryem Uzerli, who is very popular internationally, this film will showcase the beauty and richness of the TRNC to the world, and we will invite tourists from both the UK and around the world to Northern Cyprus.”