CYPRUS TURKISH AIRLINES' FLIGHTS SUSPENDED BY TRNC'S CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY

Commenting on the suspension of the flights of KTHY which has been having financial problems lately, Turkish Cypriot Transportation Minister Ersan Saner said the airline company's planes would be kept at Ercan Airport and no flights would be conducted this morning.
Noting that efforts were underway to find a solution to the matter, Saner said officials tried to minimize the problems faced by passengers who had flights scheduled for Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, following the suspension of flights, Hava-Sen, Union of Workers of the Turkish Cypriot Air Carrier, started a strike at Ercan Airport early on Tuesday.
Flights of air carriers other than KTHY are also affected by the strike, officials said.
Releasing a written statement on Tuesday, TRNC's Prime Ministry said that the tender aiming at finding a partner to KTHY would be concluded during the airline company's general assembly meeting to be held on Tuesday.
The statement said KTHY's financial problems and high losses could not be met by TRNC's budgetary sources, and therefore, the country's council of ministers decided to help the Turkish Cypriot flag carrier solve its financial issues with the support of a partner.
Upon the suspension of KTHY's flights, a crisis desk was set up at the company's headquarters, officials also noted.
KTHY's deputy head Selim Altincik told the Turkish Cypriot BRT TV that passengers' grievance was the primary issue, adding his company was holding talks with other airlines in order to solve the problems of passengers with tickets.
Officials said that KTHY currently owed nearly 40 million USD to the Turkish Cypriot Civil Aviation Department.