The inauguration of the new private airline "Fly Cyprus Airlines", which will operate flights between the occupied and Turkish airports from mid-April, took place on Monday evening.
As reported in the occupied territories, an "Airbus A 320" aircraft of the new company will start flights to and from Istanbul airport on April 16.
The company "Fly Cyprus Airlines (Fly KHY)" was presented last night in the new terminal building of the illegal airport.
"Fly Cyprus Airlines" will initially operate two flights to and from Istanbul and one daily flight to and from Ankara and Izmir. The company is also planning charter flights to and from Erbil, Tehran, Pristina, Amman and Baku from May 21, it was announced.
Rauf Denktash, one of the founding partners of the Board of Directors of the new company, speaking at the presentation, said that "since the suspension of Turkish Cypriot airlines' flights on June 21, 2010, Turkish Cypriots have not had their own airline. Now they have. This business is a private business. However, the mission of this company is much more than a private enterprise."
Speaking at the presentation, the "Minister of Public Works and Transport", Erhan Arikli, addressed those who criticized the similarity of the name of the new company with Cyprus Airways, claiming that "I, as the minister, give the permission. What do you care? Will you defend the Greek Cypriots?"
Yesterday's presentation was welcomed by the Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar, with a video message, as he was in Turkey. In his message, he expressed his satisfaction at the establishment of the new airline and wished success to the entrepreneurs.
KYPE