Taxi fares in Northern Cyprus rise: a ride to the airport costs more than a plane ticket

With the start of the new year, price increases have also affected the transport sector in Northern Cyprus. After public transport fares rose by 40%, taxi prices followed suit. As a result, long-distance taxi rides have become more expensive than air travel.

While Pegasus Airlines offers tickets on the Istanbul–Ercan route starting from 997 Turkish lira, a taxi ride:

• from Kyrenia to Ercan Airport costs around 2,300 lira,
• from Nicosia — about 2,500 lira.

Even short trips with the minimum “hop on–hop off” fare exceed 500 lira.

Industry representatives stress that the price increase is not due solely to higher fuel costs. According to them, tariffs are also affected by:

• vehicle maintenance and repairs,
• the cost of tires,
• taxes and social contributions,
• parking fees and licenses.

Deputy Chairman of the Nicosia Taxi Drivers’ Union Mehmet Kanal noted that mandatory monthly contributions for one driver have risen to 23,000 lira, while the price of diesel fuel has increased from 29 to 48 lira over the past year.

He also emphasized that taxis provide an individual service:

“An airplane carries 300 passengers, while a taxi is a personal, safe, and comfortable means of transport. Moreover, fares are approved by the state, not set by the drivers themselves.”

Taxi driver Ahmet Bardak said that over the past year the situation in the sector has become critical:

“I earn 400–800 lira a day, while expenses reach 2,500. Without my pension, it would be impossible to survive on taxi income alone.”

He also expressed dissatisfaction that authorities continue to issue new licenses despite the crisis in the sector.

Taxi drivers hope prices can come down but emphasize that this is only possible if fuel, maintenance, and tax costs are reduced.