It is legally impossible to convert Ercan Airport into Turkey's domestic flight status

Aviation security inspector Birdal Cihangir presented a detailed analysis of recent political initiatives to include Ercan Airport (Northern Cyprus) in the category of Turkey's domestic air routes. In the expert's assessment, from the standpoint of international aviation law, ICAO rules and border legislation, the full legal classification of flights to Ercan as domestic is de facto unworkable. At the same time, Turkey could apply a special domestic financial and tax regime to this route on its sovereign territory.

Legal and technical barriers under international law:
— Violation of the Chicago Convention. Under the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation (Articles 10, 68 and ICAO Annex 15), states publish lists of international airports strictly within their sovereign territories. Determining status by the decision of one side is incompatible with international mechanisms.
— Border and customs regime. A flight status is determined not by the commercial name of a ticket, but by the presence of a state border. Passengers departing from Turkey to Ercan must undergo full passport and customs control, as well as an exit procedure, which is entirely absent on genuine domestic flights within Turkey.
— The specifics of Ercan's status. Legally, the right of international representation across the entire island belongs to the Republic of Cyprus, which considers Ercan a closed and unlawful port of entry. ICAO codes (LCEN) and IATA codes (ECN) are used technically to ensure the safety of actual air traffic, but they do not imply legal recognition of the airport.

A possible compromise through a financial regime:
Birdal Cihangir explained that instead of changing the legal status of flights, Turkey could adjust the economic component on its territory:
— Lower operating costs. Turkish authorities may equate passenger service fees, airport charges, duties and taxes for flights to Ercan with the rates applied within Turkish provinces. The legal status of the flight would remain international, but airlines' costs would fall.
— Impact on ticket prices. The expert stressed that a hypothetical tax cut does not guarantee an automatic reduction in airfares for passengers. Pricing on the Turkey — Northern Cyprus route is driven by the market: year-round aircraft occupancy here exceeds 80%, and strong demand allows companies to absorb tax relief into their own profits.

Ways to solve the problem of expensive flights:
To provide the TRNC with affordable air transport, fiscal measures from Ankara alone are not enough. Cihangir insists on the need for a comprehensive state policy:
— Developing competition. A real drop in prices is possible only if the presence of carriers on the routes is expanded.
— Creating a next-generation national carrier. The authorities of Northern Cyprus should reconsider the model for establishing a Turkish-Cypriot airline. Its goal should not be direct commercial competition with private giants, but the performance of a social function — protecting citizens' right to transport and economically balancing price pressure in the market.