Antalya: A private airline has launched a helicopter taxi service between Trkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), offering VIP transportation between the two.

According to Anadolu Agency, the first flight departed from Gazipasa-Alanya Airport in Antalya on the Turkish Mediterranean and landed at Ercan Airport in the capital Lefkosa. The flight carried Fikri Ataoglu, the TRNC's deputy prime minister, as well as Public Works and Transport Minister Erhan Arikli.

Ataoglu said the service would serve as a bridge to further strengthen ties between Trkiye and the TRNC, adding that the flights are intended for VIP use and may also operate on domestic routes.

Arikli said the initiative aims to ease travel between the two sides and said additional flights to the southern Turkish cities of Adana and Mersin are planned in the coming days.