Ireland has refused permission for holiday flights from Dublin to North Cyprus, via Turkey, which were to have started on May 20th. Approval of the flights to the unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus would have put Ireland in breach of UN resolutions, a Department of Public Enterprise spokesman confirmed yesterday.
The flights, which have been heavily advertised in recent weeks, were to have launched a new destination for Irish travel agents.
The refusal of a January 30th application from Cyprus Turkish Airlines for permission to fly from Dublin to Antalya in Turkey was refused by the Department of Public Enterprise because the "ultimate destination" was the Turkish Republic of Cyprus. The only country that recognises the northern Cyprus regime is Turkey.