Ataoğlu: 300-500 TL price decrease on plane tickets may take place

The issue of high plane ticket prices was one of the important topics discussed at a summit held between Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in Ankara, Türkiye.

An initiative has been launched by Türkiye on the issue upon a request by the TRNC.

Speaking at a program on BRT on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu announced that work has started for the practice of domestic flights, increasing the number of flights and the partial waiver of taxes.

“We can provide a 300-500 TL decrease in a short period of time” he said.

Explaining that the issue of incentive payments to Tourism Agencies which was on the agenda for many years had been solved, Ataoğlu said that a source of 110 million TL in funds provided by Türkiye covers the years 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Stating that instructions have been given by Turkish officials to add additional flights due to the current tourism season, he noted that the Turkish officials had paid attention to their demands immediately.

Clarifying the domestic flight issue, Ataoğlu said “while the per capita tax from İstanbul to Adana is 3-5 Euros, this amount is 19 Euros from İstanbul to the TRNC. That’s why we are demanding from Türkiye to treat us as a domestic flight.”