Why does the TRNC need a national airline

Marvo


Joined: 30/04/2007
Posts: 194

Message Posted:
06/07/2010 16:13

Having read a number of posts on the CTA saga, why does the TRNC need a national airline.



While I understand it is nice to have a national airline, is it necessary for a country this size to have one.



Surely it would be more cost effective to negotiate with some of the large airlines, schedules to and from Ercan airport and let the professional get on with the job.



That would then allow government officials to get on with running the country in stead of playing at running an airline.

malsancak


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 2874

Message Posted:
06/07/2010 16:19

thank you Marvo, with all the flight chaos I hadn't laughed for a few days until I read the little joke at the end of your post.

keyholekate


Joined: 08/05/2009
Posts: 81

Message Posted:
06/07/2010 16:19

Could be because the TRNC is not recognised except by Turkey and having a national airline is evidence of existence.

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
06/07/2010 16:32

To provide employment for 600 odd people.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
06/07/2010 17:27

600 very odd people...

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
06/07/2010 18:33

Baggage handlers earning 5000TL per month - can this be for real???



Gizusajob!

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
06/07/2010 18:59

Margaret Msg 3 - I suspect this is one of two reasons the other being that most international airlines would not go there becasue of the historical fear of "embargoes" on their other routes notably to Greece and the south side (although some flights to Greece seem to be available from Pegasus).

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
06/07/2010 19:02

5000TL per month! Are you sure?

zcacmxi


Joined: 30/11/2008
Posts: 388

Message Posted:
06/07/2010 19:29

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. If I'm not mistaken then either one of the following two options would have left the TRNC economy / tourism in a much better state:



1) If all the money spent on overemploying all those people at CTA in the past 30+ years could have been used to subsidise / encourage other airlines to fly in to Ercan, more passengers would have come to the TRNC. The unfair competition created by CTA must have put off a number of airlines, and may have been the reason why so many of those that tried to fly to Ercan failed (Istanbul, Onur, SunExpress, TWI to name just a few)



2) If CTA was run efficiently without the overemployment, then it may have actually made money... If they had reduced the fares instead of employing people, then 100,000s more people would have afforded to visit the TRNC.



Either one of the above options would have been better in my opinion, I'd personally prefer option 1), with Turkish Airlines providing the "National Airlines" service.