Turkish Airline to gradually resume international flights from June 10 including north Cyprus

Turkey plans to resume international flights to 40 countries gradually as of June 10, the transport and infrastructure minister said on Thursday. 

The international flights from Turkey will carry passengers firstly to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Qatar, and Greece, Adil Karaismailoğlu said in a statement.

Karaismailoğlu stressed that Turkey took initiatives with 92 countries to restart international flights.

We have come to an agreement with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Austria, Lithuania, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Albania, Belarus, the United Arab Emirates, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, and Italy, hesaid.

Turkey suspended all international flights on March 28 amid COVID-19-related travel restrictions worldwide.

Meanwhileü local airlines have enjoyed strong demand after they resumed domestic flights earlier this week as Turkey further eased coronavirus restrictions on travel. 

Turkish Airlines, low-cost carrier Pegasus and SunExpress all recommenced commercial flights on June 1.

Initial fears that people would avoid air travel did not materialize and demand for flights has surprised on the upside.