Second Airport in TRNC, Geçitkale, Handed Over to Turkish Peacekeeping Forces in Cyprus

The General Assembly of the TRNC unanimously approved the law on transferring the Geçitkale airport to the Turkish Peacekeeping Forces in Cyprus (KTBKK).

It is reported that after the transfer to the military, Geçitkale may be used as an alternative airport for safe flights if the main air hub of the TRNC, Ercan, becomes inoperable for any reason. The airport may also be used for aerial sports.

It is claimed that the civil aviation authority of the TRNC will not be established at the airport, there will be no military base, and no fighter jets will be stationed.

It should be noted that according to Greek media reports, Geçitkale airport has been used for military purposes since 2019 when a number of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones were first deployed there.

In 1998, Turkey briefly stationed six F-16 fighter jets at the airport in response to Greece deploying four F-16s and two Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft at Paphos Airport amid growing tensions between the two countries.

From 2002 to 2004, Geçitkale airport operated regular passenger flights as the main civilian airport in the north during the reconstruction period of Ercan Airport.