By Esra Aygin
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, including the ‘official ‘TV and radio station BRT , announced the launching of direct flights between the United Kingdom and the occupied territories.
As reported, the flights would have been undertaken by the low-cost Turkish Airlines subsidiary AJet, and land at the illegally operating Ercan/Tymbou airport. 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 that direct flights had indeed been agreed between the United Kingdom and north Cyprus, compared news reports to the official statements in an effort to get to the source, conducted a fact-check and published its findings.
THE CLAIM
Headlines in the Turkish-Cypriot media included:
● “Prime Minister Ustel: The London-Ercan direct flights launch a new era 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)
Ustel was quoted as saying:
“The new flights will allow our passengers to arrive in the TRNC faster, 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, spoke at an event organised with AJet to announce new flight schedules and “special” fares from the United Kingdom to the occupied territories.
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 area 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 first go through a recognised airport in Turkey - as the only country that recognises the TRNC.
Over the years, there have been occasional reports or statements by Turkish Cypriot ‘officials’ on direct flights to the occupied territories. However, they have never amounted to anything more than speculation.
When CIReN checked the official website of Ustel’s office for his original statement at the 5 August event, it found no mention of direct flights from London to 'north Cyprus'.
The relevant press statement quoted 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
Reports carried by Turkish Cypriot news outlets that announced direct flights from London were false on two levels:
Neither Ustel’s website nor the official web sites of AJet and Turkish Airlines referred to direct flights to the occupied territories.
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.
CIReN’s project “Countering Falsehoods and Propaganda in Island States” is supported by the European Media and Information Fund (EMIF).
The sole responsibility for any content 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.