Cyprus Turkish Airlines
Corporate brand
UnclaimedThe former flag carrier of Northern Cyprus, which operated scheduled passenger services from Ercan until its collapse in 2010.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Cyprus Turkish Airlines Limited, commonly known by its Turkish name Kıbrıs Türk Hava Yolları or the abbreviation KTHY, was a Turkish Cypriot airline that served as the principal air carrier and de facto flag carrier of Northern Cyprus. It was established in Nicosia on 4 December 1974, shortly after the political division of Cyprus, with its shares initially divided equally between Turkish Airlines and the Cash Development of the Consolidated Fund of the Assembly of the Turkish Cypriot Community. The airline’s first scheduled flight took place on 3 February 1975. The company was legally registered in Istanbul as a Turkish company, while its commercial and operational activity was centered in Northern Cyprus. Its main base was Ercan Airport, the principal airport serving the northern part of the island. Because of the international aviation restrictions affecting Northern Cyprus, flights to destinations in Europe generally had to stop at an airport in mainland Turkey. This routing structure shaped the airline’s network and made it a particularly important transport link for the Turkish Cypriot community, visitors, students, and tourism-related traffic. During its operating life, KTHY connected Ercan with cities in Turkey, the United Kingdom, and parts of Western and Northern Europe. London became one of its established international destinations in 1981. The airline expanded and modernized its fleet at different stages through leased and purchased aircraft, including Douglas DC-9s, Boeing 720s, Boeing 727-200s, Boeing 737-800s, Airbus A321-200s, and an Airbus A320-200. By the late 2000s it offered economy and Economy Plus cabins, complimentary meal or snack service on newer aircraft, express check-in at Ercan, and a frequent-flyer program offering benefits such as priority reservations and additional baggage allowance. KTHY also had a broader institutional and tourism role. Its monthly in-flight magazine, Caretta, promoted Northern Cyprus’s cultural heritage, tourist sites, and events. The company participated in airport and ground-handling arrangements, including cooperation with HAVAŞ and the formation of Cyprus Airport Services in 2007. It introduced male cabin crew in 2008 after having previously employed only women as flight attendants. The airline’s final years were marked by financial difficulty, labor tension, and attempts to expand. Management sought a buyer in 2010 in the face of reported debt of approximately $100 million. Atlasjet was the only bidder after the sale process ended, but the transaction did not prevent the cessation of operations. KTHY announced on 21 June 2010 that all flights had been suspended until further notice, and the company was reported as having gone out of business on 29 June. Bankruptcy was subsequently declared in September 2010. The collapse left Northern Cyprus without its former principal airline until the later emergence of another local carrier in the 2020s.
History
Cyprus Turkish Airlines was created on 4 December 1974 in Nicosia as an aviation venture associated with both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot administration. Its original shareholding was divided equally between Turkish Airlines and the Cash Development of the Consolidated Fund of the Assembly of the Turkish Cypriot Community. The arrangement gave the new carrier both a connection to Turkey’s aviation system and a direct institutional role in the transport infrastructure of Northern Cyprus. Its first scheduled service was flown on 3 February 1975. The airline’s legal and operational structure reflected the political circumstances of the island. It was registered de jure in Istanbul, but its daily activity was conducted from Ercan Airport in the Turkish-controlled northern part of Nicosia. KTHY became the main passenger airline serving Northern Cyprus, operating routes to Turkey and, subject to the applicable international restrictions, to destinations in Britain and Europe through Turkish airports. The requirement for European flights to make a stop in mainland Turkey made the carrier’s network different from that of a conventional international airline, but it remained an important link for residents, tourism, and the Turkish Cypriot diaspora. Fleet development was gradual and mixed. In the second half of the 1970s the airline leased aircraft including DC-9s, Boeing 720s, and Boeing 727-200s. It opened a sales office in Kyrenia and registered the company in Istanbul in 1977. Scheduled London services began in 1981, establishing one of the airline’s most significant international markets. Two Boeing 727-200s were purchased in 1990, while the airline expanded its staffing structure in 1991 by employing its own ground personnel and cockpit and cabin crews. In 1998, one of its flights was hijacked during a service from Ercan to Ankara; the aircraft landed safely and the perpetrator was arrested. The carrier continued to renew its fleet in the 2000s. It began long-term leases of Boeing 737-800 aircraft in 2000. After technical flight-hour limits were reached, its Boeing 727-200 fleet was grounded and sold in 2002. Long-term leases of Airbus A321-200 aircraft began in 2004, and the airline later received an Airbus A320-200. Its passenger proposition centered on economy travel, with free meals or snacks on newer aircraft and no standard in-flight entertainment. An Economy Plus cabin replaced older Business and First Class arrangements after the retirement of aircraft associated with those services. Express check-in was introduced at Ercan in early 2008 for passengers traveling without checked baggage, and a frequent-flyer program provided priority booking, extra baggage, check-in advantages, and redeemable points. KTHY also developed supporting commercial and service activities. Its Caretta magazine presented information about Northern Cyprus, including cultural material, tourism destinations, and events. The company obtained ISO 9001:2000 quality certification in 2006, introduced a departure-control system at Ercan, and contracted Turkish airport ground services to HAVAŞ. A related company, Cyprus Airport Services, was formed in 2007 after cooperation between KTHY and HAVAŞ. In 2008 the airline added male flight attendants, ending a longstanding all-female cabin-crew practice. It also agreed with DETUR on a protocol covering flights to Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Northern European expansion began with a scheduled flight to Helsinki on 7 February 2009. Additional charter activity to Italy, Romania, Slovenia, and Hungary was considered, and management announced an ambition to increase the fleet to twelve aircraft by 2012. Those plans were overtaken by the airline’s financial crisis. By 2010, management was seeking a sale to avoid bankruptcy in the face of approximately $100 million in debt. The Turkish government had sold its shareholding to Ada Havayolları in 2005, and Atlasjet was the only bidder when the 2010 bidding period ended. The proposed rescue did not preserve the carrier’s operations. On 21 June 2010 KTHY announced that all flights had ceased until further notice. It was reported as out of business on 29 June, and bankruptcy was declared on 19 September. The collapse removed Northern Cyprus’s principal airline and left Ercan dependent on other carriers. A possible relaunch under the Karpas Airlines name was discussed for 2014, but the referenced material does not establish that the plan became an operating airline. KTHY therefore remains a defunct carrier whose historical importance lies in its role as Northern Cyprus’s principal scheduled passenger airline from 1975 until 2010.
- 2010
Operations suspended and bankruptcy follows
[1]Operations stopped on 21 June; the airline was reported out of business on 29 June and bankruptcy was declared in September.
- 2009
Nordic scheduled service begins
[1]The airline operated its first scheduled Nordic service to Helsinki on 7 February.
- 2007
Cyprus Airport Services formed
[1]Cyprus Airport Services was formed following KTHY’s partnership with HAVAŞ.
- 2006
Quality and airport systems upgraded
[1]The airline obtained ISO 9001:2000 certification, introduced a departure-control system at Ercan, and contracted Turkish ground services to HAVAŞ.
- 2005
Turkish Airlines sells its interest
[1]The Turkish government sold its shareholding in the airline to Ada Havayolları.
- 2002
Boeing 727 fleet retired
[1]Four Boeing 727-200 aircraft were grounded and sold after completing their applicable technical flight hours.
- 2000
Boeing 737-800 leasing program begins
[1]KTHY began long-term leasing of two Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
- 1981
London route launched
[1]Scheduled flights to London began.
- 1977
Registration in Istanbul
[1]The company was registered in Istanbul, while its operating base remained at Ercan.
- 1975
First scheduled flight
[1]The airline conducted its first scheduled flight on 3 February.
Products and positioning
A state-linked Turkish Cypriot flag carrier and essential air-transport link between Northern Cyprus, Turkey, Britain, and selected European markets.
Air transport · 1975
Scheduled passenger services
KTHY’s core offering was scheduled passenger transportation from Ercan to destinations in Turkey, the United Kingdom, and selected European markets. European routes generally required an intermediate stop in mainland Turkey because of the international aviation restrictions surrounding Northern Cyprus. The network made the airline the primary air link for Northern Cyprus during its operating period.
Passenger cabin
Economy cabin
Economy was available across the newer aircraft in the fleet. Depending on the aircraft and service, passengers received a complimentary meal or snack. The airline did not provide standard in-flight entertainment, emphasizing practical short- and medium-haul transportation rather than a premium long-haul proposition.
Passenger cabin
Economy Plus
Economy Plus was introduced after KTHY discontinued its earlier Business and First Class services. It represented a higher-tier economy product used after the grounding of aircraft associated with the older premium cabins, offering the airline a differentiated option without restoring a conventional multi-class long-haul configuration.
Loyalty program
Special Passenger Programme for Frequent Flyers
KTHY’s frequent-flyer program rewarded repeat passengers with points that could be redeemed for travel. Members also received benefits including priority seat reservations, additional baggage allowance, and reduced waiting at check-in.
In-flight publication
Caretta
Caretta was the airline’s monthly in-flight magazine. It combined airline-related material with editorial coverage of Northern Cyprus, including cultural background, tourism destinations, and forthcoming events, and was also made available through the company’s website.
Brand decisions
2010
Attempted sale to AtlasjetM&ABackground
Management sought to sell the airline to avoid bankruptcy while it carried reported debt of approximately $100 million. Atlasjet was the only bidder after the bidding period closed.
Action taken
The airline entered a sale process, with Atlasjet emerging as the sole bidder.
Aftermath
The transaction did not preserve operations. KTHY suspended flights in June 2010 and later entered bankruptcy.
Reported debt. $100 million (2010)
2009
European and Nordic expansion planStrategyBackground
KTHY pursued network growth beyond Turkey and the United Kingdom, including a protocol with DETUR covering Sweden, Norway, and Finland and plans for additional charter services.
Action taken
The airline launched scheduled service to Helsinki, considered charter flights to several Central and Southern European countries, and announced a plan to expand its fleet to twelve aircraft by 2012.
Aftermath
The expansion ambitions were overtaken by the financial crisis that led to the suspension of operations in 2010.
Sources1 sources
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