No flights between Britain and Cyprus’ occupied areas

Britain has ruled out direct flights between Cyprus’ northern Turkish occupied areas and Britain, saying such flights are prohibited by international conventions.

A spokesman for the British Department of Transport has told CNA it is impossible to conduct direct flights between Britain and Cyprus’ occupied areas because they are prohibited by the Chicago International Convention, which regulates the operation of civil aviation worldwide.

On Monday a hearing relating to an appeal by a Turkish Cypriot against the prohibition of such flights will begin before Britain’s Supreme Court.

The appeal was lodged by CTA Holidays Limited, linked to the so-called Turkish Cypriot airways, after representations by the latter to the British Department of Transport to lift the prohibition. The Department’s reply rejected the representations.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. The island’s northern occupied areas are not recognized by any other state except Turkey. The UN has called on all states not to facilitate or recognise the self-styled regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus, saying it is “legally invalid.”