Despite extensive coverage in Turkish Cypriot media, no direct flights between the UK and north Cyprus were launched. CIReN traces the claim to its source and examines what was actually said — and what wasn’t.
On 5 August 2025, tens of Turkish Cypriot news outlets in the northern part of Cyprus including the official TV and radio station BRT, announced the launching of direct flights between the United Kingdom and north Cyprus.
The flights would be by the low-cost Turkish Airlines subsidiary AJet, and land in the Ercan/Tymbou airport, according to the reports. All of the news outlets attributed the information to the head of the Turkish Cypriot ruling coalition, Unal Ustel.
The Cyprus Investigative Reporting Network (CIReN) examined the claim of direct flights between the United Kingdom and north Cyprus, compared news reports to the official statements in an effort to get to the source of the allegation, conducted a fact-check and issued its verdict.
The Claim
Among tens of headlines in the media were:
- “Prime Minister Ustel: With the London-Ercan direct flights, a new era is beginning in tourism,” (BRT)
- “AJet will fly directly from London to Ercan,” (Detay Kibris) and
- “Prime Minister Ustel: London-Ercan direct flights will strengthen our tourism.” (Kanal T)
In all of these media reports, Ustel was quoted as saying:
“With these new flights, our passengers will now be able to arrive in the TRNC in a short time, without any stops. This step will greatly contribute to the development of our tourism.”
The Facts
On 5 August 2025, the head of the Turkish Cypriot ruling coalition, Unal Ustel, had spoken at an event organized with AJet to announce new flight schedules and “special” fares from the United Kingdom to north Cyprus.
Due to the fact that the breakaway state in the northern part of Cyprus is not internationally recognized, there are no direct flights to the northern part of Cyprus from any country except Turkey. The international aviation authorities do not recognize Ercan/Tympou Airport in north Cyprus as an official international entry point. Therefore, international flights cannot legally land there directly. They must go through a recognized airport in Turkey – as the only country that recognizes the TRNC – first.
Over the years, there have been occasional reports in the media or statements by Turkish Cypriot officials regarding direct flights to north Cyprus. However, these all were proven to be speculations.
When CIReN checked the official website of the office of Ustel for his original statement at the 5 August event, it found no mention of direct flights from Londond to north Cyprus.
The relevant press statement quoted the head of the coalition Ustel as merely saying: “With these new flights our passengers will now be able to arrive in TRNC under more suitable conditions. This step will greatly contribute to the development of our tourism.”
CIReN found no reports or press releases about the event on the official websites of AJet or Turkish Airlines, nor any mention of direct flights from London to north Cyprus.
The Verdict: False
The reports carried by Turkish Cypriot news outlets that announced direct flights from London to north Cyprus were false on two levels:
Neither Ustel’s official website nor the official web sites of AJet and Turkish Airlines refer to any direct flights from London to north Cyprus.
While AJet does fly from London to north Cyprus, the flights are never direct and always involve a layover in Turkey according to AJet’s website.
This project is supported by the European Media and Information Fund (EMIF). The sole responsibility for any content supported by the European Media and Information Fund lies with the authors and it may not necessarily reflect the positions of the EMIF and the Fund Partners, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the European University Institute.