Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan are ready to operate direct flights to North Cyprus, Transport Minister Erhan Arıklı said on Wednesday.
According to Turkish Cypriot press reports, the north has received requests from all three countries to operate flights there. However, none took place due to the “heavy pressure” Russia has been facing, Arıklı said.
Russians living in the north have been pushing for direct flights to the north, with Arıklı previously saying they would start in March this year.
In a speech to ‘parliament’ discussing his ‘ministry’s budget, Arıklı added that works for the new Ercan airport are completed, with test flights to begin in mid-February. The opening of the new airport has so far suffered delays after its originally scheduled opening in 2016.