{{Short description|Airport in Northern Cyprus}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}} {{Infobox airport | name = Ercan International Airport | nativename = {{lang|tr|Ercan Uluslararası Havalimanı}}<br />{{nobold|{{lang|el|Αεροδρόμιο Τύμπου}}}} | IATA = ECN | ICAO = LCEN<ref name="codes">"LCEN" in widespread use, including by the ICAO (e.g. [http://www.icao.int/safety/meteorology/sadisopsg/SADIS%20Meeting%20Meta%20Data/Binder1.pdf here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203183916/http://www.icao.int/safety/meteorology/sadisopsg/SADIS%20Meeting%20Meta%20Data/Binder1.pdf |date=3 February 2014 }}) and FAA (e.g. [https://www.notams.faa.gov/common/icao/R53C0.html here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827221553/https://www.notams.faa.gov/common/icao/R53C0.html |date=27 August 2019 }}), however the code does not appear in an official [http://www.icao.int/anb/aig/taxonomy/r4cdlocationindicatorsbystate.pdf ICAO List] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235554/http://www.icao.int/anb/aig/Taxonomy/R4CDLocationIndicatorsbystate.pdf |date=26 September 2007 }}{{failed verification|date=August 2019}}.</ref> | type = Private | image = Ercan Uluslararası Havalimanı.jpg | image-width = 250 | pushpin_map = Cyprus#Europe | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_label = '''ECN'''/LCEN | coordinates = {{coord|35|09|35|N|33|30|00|E|region:CY|display=inline,title}} | website = {{URL|www.ercanairport.aero}} | owner-oper = T&T Ercan Airport | city-served = [[Northern Cyprus]] | location = [[Kırklar]] | hub = [[Fly Kıbrıs Airlines]] | operating_base = [[Pegasus Airlines]] | elevation-f = 403 | elevation-m = 123 | r1-number = 11/29 | r1-length-f = 9,038 | r1-length-m = 3,200 | r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]] | stat-year = 2023 | stat1-header = Yearly Passengers | stat1-data = 3,990,324 {{increase}} 30.9% | stat2-header = Aircraft movements | stat2-data = 26,697 {{increase}} 18.6% | stat3-data = 1,104,907 {{increase}} 15.2% | stat3-header = Cargo (kg) | footnotes = Source: Civil Aviation Authority<ref>{{Cite web |title=The numbers are on the rise at Ercan Airport! |url=https://www.tourismjournal.com.tr/english-news/the-numbers-are-on-the-rise-at-ercan-airport-1085157 |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=www.tourismjournal.com.tr}}</ref> }} [[File:Ercan Yolu.jpg|thumb]] [[File:SİVİL Havacılık Dairesi Ercan Havalimanı Eylül 2025.jpg|thumb]] '''Ercan International Airport''' {{airport codes|ECN|LCEN}}<ref name="codes" /> is the primary civilian airport of [[Northern Cyprus]]. It is located about {{convert|13|km|mi|0|abbr=off}} east of [[Nicosia]], near the village of [[Tymbou|Kırklar]]. The airport only serves flights to and from Turkey.
==History== [[File:Ercan_Airport_North_Cyprus_008.JPG|thumb|Check-in area at the old terminal]] The precursor of Ercan Airport, Tymbou Airport, was constructed by the [[Cyprus Regiment|British]] in [[World War II by country#Cyprus|World War II]] as a military airport, during [[British Cyprus|their colonial rule]] of the island. Following the [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus|Turkish invasion of 1974]] and the partition of the island, it was taken over by the [[Turkish army]], and today is used as the main civilian airport of Northern Cyprus. It is named after {{ill|Fehmi Ercan|tr|Fehmi Ercan}}.<ref>[https://blog.turkishairlines.com/en/turkiyes-gateway-to-tnrc-the-new-nicosia-ercan-international-airport/ Türkiye's gateway to TNRC: The new Nicosia Ercan International Airport], Turkish Airlines Blog</ref>
Since 2006, the rule which stipulates that flights are required to touch down at a Turkish airport before continuing to and from Ercan has been under discussion. In 2006, the [[Turkish government]] began discussions for Northern Cyprus' main port of [[Port of Famagusta|Famagusta]], and main civilian airport Ercan, to be able to operate direct connections, with the [[UK government]] describing it as a "significant and creative offer".<ref name="bbc1">{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6216498.stm | title=Turkey "will open up to Cyprus" | date=7 December 2006 | work=BBC News | access-date=6 February 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325040635/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6216498.stm | archive-date=25 March 2012 | url-status=live }}</ref>
However, {{As of|2024|lc=y}}, the rule still applies, and Ercan airport has seen a decrease in customers,<ref name="tvine" /> as a result of new tight security measures imposed by the UK [[Department for Transport]] questioning the status of the airport and forcing passengers travelling between Britain and Northern Cyprus to disembark with their luggage and go through a fresh security check in Turkey in order to board a new aircraft for their final destination.<ref name="tvine" />
Plans have been completed to enlarge the airport in order to increase capacity. Ercan Airport had a {{convert|2755|m}} long runway and an apron with a capacity of seven aircraft. Although the runway was long enough for large planes to land, it was not long enough for take-offs. The plan has been for the construction of a new runway of {{convert|3200|m}} and extension of the existing runway to 3200 m, apron and terminal building and with the planned new apron more than doubling the current plane capacity.<ref name="hurriyet1">{{cite web| url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/finance/10651015.asp?scr=1| title=Northern Cyprus airport for sale| date=27 December 2008| publisher=Hurriyet| access-date=27 December 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014112610/http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/finance/10651015.asp?scr=1| archive-date=14 October 2012| url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, the new terminal was under construction, planned to be much larger than the existing airport and to have 9 airbridges.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://northcyprusinternational.com/north-cyprus-international-ercan-airport/|title=North Cyprus International Ercan Airport Upgrade Project|date=25 October 2019}}</ref> The new terminal and extended runway were opened on 20 July 2023,<ref>{{cite web |title=KKTC Cumhurbaşkanlığı - Ercan Havalimanı Yeni Terminal ve Pisti'nin açılış töreninde konuşan Cumhurbaşkanı Tatar uluslararası camiaya seslendi |url=https://www.kktcb.org/tr/ercan-havalimani-yeni-terminal-ve-pistinin-acilis-toreninde-konusan-cumhurbaskani-11320 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731084340/https://www.kktcb.org/tr/ercan-havalimani-yeni-terminal-ve-pistinin-acilis-toreninde-konusan-cumhurbaskani-11320 |archive-date=31 July 2023}}</ref> after delays,<ref>{{cite web |date=18 April 2023 |title=Further delay for new terminal at airport in north | Cyprus Mail |url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2023/04/18/further-delay-for-new-terminal-at-airport-in-north/}}</ref> with a power outage less than 12 hours after the opening. The first flight to the new terminal was made by [[President of Turkey|Turkish President]], [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan|Recep Tayyip Erdogan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Everything you need to know about the new Ercan – Cyprus' largest airport |url=https://www.t-vine.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-ercan-cyprus-largest-airport/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=www.t-vine.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title="Havalimanı'nın 15 Kasım'da açılabilmesi için gece-gündüz çalışılıyor" |url=https://www.gundemkibris.com/kibris/havalimaninin-15-kasimda-acilabilmesi-icin-gece-gunduz-h350279.html |language=tr}}</ref>
==Airlines and destinations== ===International status=== Flights to and from the airport are banned internationally due to the ongoing [[Cyprus problem|Cyprus dispute]].<ref name="auto1">{{cite news|title=Students Flock to Universities in Northern Cyprus|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/17/world/europe/students-flock-to-universities-in-northern-cyprus.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date = 16 February 2014|access-date=25 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905165507/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/17/world/europe/students-flock-to-universities-in-northern-cyprus.html?_r=0|archive-date=5 September 2015|url-status=live|last1 = Güsten|first1 = Susanne}}</ref> Non-stop flights only take place from Turkey, and all planes that fly to Northern Cyprus from other countries have to stop over in Turkey.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|title=Europe diary: Island isolation|date=8 December 2006|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6215410.stm|publisher=BBC|access-date=25 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914193616/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6215410.stm|archive-date=14 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Because of these difficulties and inconveniences, the majority of Turkish Cypriots with Republic of Cyprus [[Cypriot nationality law|citizenship]] prefer to travel through [[Larnaca International Airport|Larnaca]] and [[Paphos International Airport|Paphos]] airports, which are located in territory under the control of the internationally recognised government of the Republic of Cyprus; this option is not available, however, to [[Turkey|Turkish]] citizens.<ref name="tvine">{{Cite web|url=http://www.t-vine.com/larnaca-airport-bookings-soar-at-expense-of-ercan-following-uk-air-embargo/|title=Larnaca Airport bookings soar at expense of Ercan following UK air embargo – T-VINE|access-date=12 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216123611/http://www.t-vine.com/larnaca-airport-bookings-soar-at-expense-of-ercan-following-uk-air-embargo/|archive-date=16 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.kibrisgazetesi.com/yazarlar/emin-akkor/larnaka-istanbula-bile-ercandan-ucuzken/3102 |title=Larnaka, İstanbul'a bile Ercan'dan ucuzken |access-date=28 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215231343/https://www.kibrisgazetesi.com/yazarlar/emin-akkor/larnaka-istanbula-bile-ercandan-ucuzken/3102 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Nonetheless, several Turkish airlines operate direct flights from Ercan to Europe with intermediate stops in Turkey via some of the destinations listed below.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto"/> The Government of the Republic of Cyprus considers the use of Ercan Airport to enter or exit the island illegal,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus to the Hague - Tourism |url=http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/Embassies/embassy_thehague.nsf/All/4254DF2F0B871664C225792E001F2A27?OpenDocument#:~:text=Travellers%20arriving%20in%20the%20Republic,(Limassol),%20and%20Pafos. |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=www.mfa.gov.cy}}</ref> and could result in facing criminal charges when entering (or exiting) the Republic.
===Overview=== <!--DO NOT ADD OR REMOVE ROUTES WITHOUT GIVING A VALID SOURCE. EXACT DATES ARE MANDATORY FOR NEW ROUTES TO BE ADDED HERE. ALSO ADD INLINE CITATIONS IF POSSIBLE.--> <!--DO NOT ADD ANY DESTINATIONS OUTSIDE OF TURKEY AS ALL OF THEM ARE SERVED WITH INTERMEDIATE STOPS. WE ONLY LIST DIRECT FLIGHTS AS PER WP:AIRPORTS--> {{Airport-dest-list <!-- --> | [[AJet]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.anadolujet.com/en/corporate/flight-network|title=Flight network|website=anadolujet.com}}</ref> | [[Çukurova International Airport|Adana/Mersin]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tgrthaber.com/aktuel/10-agustosta-adana-sakirpasa-havalimani-kapatiliyor-ucuslar-yeni-havalimanina-aktarilacak-2964974 | title=10 Ağustos'ta Adana Şakirpaşa Havalimanı kapatılıyor! Uçuşlar yeni havalimanına aktarılacak | date=3 August 2024 }}</ref><ref name="aeroroutes_240313-vfns24">{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240313-vfns24|title=AJet NS24 New Flight Number Designations – 12MAR24|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=13 March 2024|accessdate=1 February 2025|language=en-ca}}</ref> [[Ankara Esenboğa Airport|Ankara]],<ref name="aeroroutes_240313-vfns24"/> [[Antalya Airport|Antalya]], [[Oğuzeli Airport|Gaziantep]], [[Sabiha Gökçen International Airport|Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen]],<ref name="aeroroutes_240313-vfns24"/> [[İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport|İzmir]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ajet.com/tr/medya/basin-ve-duyurular/duyurular/izmir-kuzey-kibris-turk-cumhuriyeti-ucuslari-1000tl-den-baslayan-fiyatlarla-satista|title=İzmir – Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti Uçuşları 1000TL'den Başlayan Fiyatlarla Satışta}}</ref> [[Trabzon Airport|Trabzon]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brtk.net/ercan-trabzon-seferleri-basliyor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106183557/https://brtk.net/ercan-trabzon-seferleri-basliyor/|title=Ercan-Trabzon seferleri başlıyor|work=BRTK |trans-title=Ercan-Trabzon flights start|date=18 December 2022|access-date=1 November 2023|archive-date=6 January 2023|language=tr}}</ref> <!-- --> | {{nowrap|[[Pegasus Airlines]]}} | [[Çukurova International Airport|Adana/Mersin]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tgrthaber.com/aktuel/10-agustosta-adana-sakirpasa-havalimani-kapatiliyor-ucuslar-yeni-havalimanina-aktarilacak-2964974 | title=10 Ağustos'ta Adana Şakirpaşa Havalimanı kapatılıyor! Uçuşlar yeni havalimanına aktarılacak | date=3 August 2024 }}</ref> [[Ankara Esenboğa Airport|Ankara]],<ref>{{Cite journal|author=<!-- not stated -->|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=November 2023|volume=25|issue=5|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=44–45}}</ref> [[Antalya Airport|Antalya]],<ref>{{Cite journal|author=<!-- not stated -->|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=November 2023|volume=25|issue=5|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=45–47}}</ref> [[Oğuzeli Airport|Gaziantep]],<ref name="OAG_World_Nov2023_350">{{Cite journal|author=<!-- not stated -->|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=Ercan|date=November 2023|volume=25|issue=5|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=350}}</ref> [[Hatay Airport|Hatay]],<ref>{{cite web | title=Turecké letiště v Hatay se má za dva týdny opět otevřít | url=https://www.airways.cz/zprava/turecke-letiste-v-hatay-se-ma-za-dva-tydny-opet-otevrit/ }}</ref> [[Istanbul Airport|Istanbul]],<ref>{{cite web | title=Pegasus, İGA–Ercan Arasında Günlük Uçuşlara Başlıyor | date=17 August 2025 | url=https://www.airlinehaber.com/pegasus-iga-ercan-arasinda-gunluk-ucuslara-basliyor/ }}</ref> [[Sabiha Gökçen International Airport|Istanbul–Sabiha Gökçen]],<ref name="OAG_World_Nov2023_350"/> [[İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport|İzmir]],<ref name="OAG_World_Nov2023_350"/> [[Kayseri Airport|Kayseri]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://centreforaviation.com/news/pegasus-airlines-to-launch-dalaman-beirut-and-kayseri-ercan-services-in-summer-2022-1121920|title=News for Airlines, Airports and the Aviation Industry | CAPA}}</ref> [[Trabzon Airport|Trabzon]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mediap.flypgs.com/1920/files/ana_sayfa_hero_banner/TR/2025/brand/trabzon_kibris/guncel/desktop_web_slider.jpg|title=New route between Trabzon and KKTC}}</ref> <!-- --> | [[SunExpress]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Liu |first1=Jim |title=SunExpress S20 new routes as of 23DEC19 |url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/288348/sunexpress-s20-new-routes-as-of-23dec19/ |website=Routesonline |access-date=24 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224171156/https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/288348/sunexpress-s20-new-routes-as-of-23dec19/ |archive-date=24 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> | [[İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport|İzmir]]<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230727-xqnw23ecn|title=SunExpress Resumes Izmir – Ercan Service in NW23|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=27 July 2023|accessdate=3 February 2025|language=en-ca}}</ref> <!-- --> |[[Turkish Airlines]] | [[Antalya Airport|Antalya]], [[Istanbul Airport|Istanbul]]<ref>{{Cite journal|author=<!-- not stated -->|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=November 2023|volume=25|issue=5|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=463–470}}</ref> <!-- --> }}{{Airport-Statistics|iata=ECN}}
==See also== * [[Embargo against Northern Cyprus]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Ercan International Airport}} * {{GCM|LCEN|source=[[DAFIF]]}} * {{NWS-current|LCEN}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20121024151306/http://aviation-safety.net/database/airport/airport.php?id=ECN Accident history for ECN] at [[Aviation Safety Network]]
{{Portalbar|Cyprus|Aviation}} {{List of airports in Northern Cyprus}} {{Airports in Cyprus}} {{List of airports in Europe}} {{Asia in topic|List of airports in}}
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[[Category:Airports in Northern Cyprus]] [[Category:Airports in Cyprus]] [[Category:Transport in Nicosia]]