FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – Ercan Airport in north Cyprus, has experienced a significant increase in the number of passengers and aircraft this year compared to the first two months of last year.
According to a statement from T&T Airport Operations, the number of passengers increased by 22.54 percent, and the number of aircraft increased by 23.48 percent in the first two months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
The increase in passenger numbers is attributed to the extension of Ercan Airport’s runway to 3,000 meters, allowing wide-body aircraft to land on the new runway.
The introduction of flights to Ercan Airport by Turkish Airlines’ A-350 wide-body aircraft, SunExpress, and other airlines also contributed to the rise in passenger numbers.
In the first two months of 2024, Ercan Airport handled 676,835 passengers, while this number increased to 829,400 in the same period of 2025.
The number of aircraft using Ercan Airport increased from 4,442 in the first two months of 2024 to 5,485 in the same period of 2025.
In January 2024, Ercan Airport served 334,510 passengers, and this number rose to 443,811 in January 2025. In February 2024, the number of passengers using the airport was 342,325, which increased to 395,589 in February 2025.
The airport – which is not recognized by the international aviation community – operates under the jurisdiction of the authorities in north Cyprus, which is only recognized by Turkey. Due to its political status, flights to and from Ercan Airport must stop at a Turkish airport before proceeding to their final destination. (Famagusta Gazette)