Cyprus-Forum.com

[sadik]

Transaltion of the beginning of the article at the following link:

TRNC Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas stated that they have reached to an agreement with Turkey a few months ago that Turkey will not open its ports, but as a sign of good will, will open its airspace to the GCs.
(...)

http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/dunya/4140025.asp?m=1&gid=69

[cypezokyli]

what came to our press today sadik , was that the airspace for international companies flying from cyprus was always open. but this new proposal excludes cyprus airways. so it offers practically nothing. bc, in general i dont trust the press, could you tell us more on what this article sais ?

just to see what was offered and what not, bc we seem to get different info

[stuballstu]

There was a piece on BBC World news last week about this.

Turkey has opened its airspace to non Greece Cypriot Airlines flying to and from Cyprus but has or will not open its airspace to Greek Cypriot Carriers.

There was a quote from BA who said it saved over 30 mins with flight to and from Cyprus from the London.

[cypezokyli]

stuballstu can you answer to me a simple question ?

wasnt the airspace , to non gc arilines always open ?

[Piratis]

wasnt the airspace , to non gc arilines always open ?

It was.

In the beginning I thought that Turkey would do only part of was she was obligated to do and demand concessions in return, but apparently they don't even do that.

OK, we also accept that Turks can continue their EU negotiations as long as Turkey is removed from a candidate. (hey, some other countries, e.g. Croatia, can take advantage of our generous offer and hire some Turks to conduct their EU negotiations .. oh, they could do that already! .. oops)

[stuballstu]

stuballstu can you answer to me a simple question ?

wasnt the airspace , to non gc arilines always open ?

cypezokyli

I wasn't sure myself before this, however a press release from BA which was quoted on the news stated that as a result of this they would save over 30 mins on flight times to Cyprus. Dont expect airfares to come down though as I think they will put the saving on fuel towards the expected increase in landing taxes at Larnaca

Although i did wonder when i have been on flight to both the North and South why the flights took a different route. I had always put that down to flight to the north having to land in Turkey first.

On a more serious note though it goes in line with what Turkey announced when it signed the Customs protocol during their EU accessions talks when they stated that they didn't recognise the ROC government as the legal government of Cyprus. It means that other EU nations flying to Cyprus can now use Turkish airspace to do so.

[Piratis]

Foreign airlines were always allowed to travel over Turkish airspace. I know of people choosing Russian airlines to do the Larnaca-Moscow trip because the Russian planes could fly over Turkey and the time of the trip was much shorter.

[Piratis]

British Airways network maps also show their London-Larnaca route passing over south west Turkey.

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/ro ... blic/en_us

[Sotos]

CONFUSION reigned yesterday over claims and denials that Turkey was ready to open its airspace to Greek Cypriot traffic.

Ankara is being pressured by the EU to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic under the customs union protocol it signed with the 10 new member states, including Cyprus.

However, since the protocol was signed late last year Turkey has refused to implement it for Cyprus, saying it would do so only if the north was allowed to trade directly with the EU.

Lately, the EU has raised up the pressure as it begins to open harmonisation chapters with Turkey.

Since 1974, Greek Cypriot aircraft, specifically Cyprus Airways, have been banned from entering Turkish airspace, forcing sometimes lengthy detours.

Yesterday, Turkish Cypriot ‘Deputy Prime Minister’ Serdar Denktash told reporters that they had agreed some months ago with Ankara on the possibility of opening Turkish airspace to Greek Cypriots.

“We would grant them a right to use Turkish airspace in direct flights to southern Cyprus instead of following a longer route,” Denktash was quoted as saying.

But Turkish Cypriot sources then told New Anatolia news agency that Denktash’s comments may have been overestimated.

It said the remarks could only be interpreted as part of a Turkish package of reciprocal moves on Cyprus.

And Turkish State Minister Abdullatif Sener denied any change in Turkish policy towards “Greek Cyprus”. "Turkey cannot open its airspace, ports and harbours to Greek Cypriots unless the isolation of Turkish Cypriots is ended,” he was quoted as saying.

Denktash did of course warn that Turkey could withdraw the gesture if there were no reciprocal moves. He also said opening of Turkish ports to Greek Cypriot vessels could not happen unless there was a simultaneous lifting of restrictions on Turkish Cypriots.

[stuballstu]

Piratis

It wasnt always the case though, as i have flew numerous times to Larnaca and the route was never over Turkish Airspace.

Maybe it is recent.

i have a friend who works in Air traffic control in the UK i will pose this question to him when i speak to him to see if he can shed any light.