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‘NO EASY WAY OUT’
Aug 23, 2021 9:22 am
Ibrar Younas
1471
● BUDGET AIRLINE REJECTS TRNC PCR TESTS FOR BOARDING
● PASSENGERS TO UK CALL FOR BOYCOTT OF EASYJET
● NEW COVID TEST FROM SOUTH DEMANDED
● FLIGHTS MISSED
Taken from this week’s problem
PASSENGERS travelling to the UK through South Cyprus airports have known as for a boycott of easyJet after the airline reportedly refused to permit these with adverse Covid checks from the TRNC to board.
Dozens of ticket holders for flights on easyJet, which flys from Paphos and Larnaca airports, stated this week that they had been refused boarding until they obtained a brand new Covid take a look at consequence carried out within the South. Some stated that they needed to discover a pharmacy to get a take a look at achieved and missed their flights in consequence
With Turkey nonetheless on England’s Covid “crimson listing”, travelling from Ercan through Turkey is an unfeasible choice for many attributable to enforced lodge quarantine and quarantine charges operating into 1000’s of kilos.
Final week Cyprus In the present day reported on how Turkish Cypriot organisations known as on British Airways, Cyprus Airways, easyJet, Wizz air, Ryan Air and Jet 2 to cease the “discrimination” in opposition to travellers with Covid take a look at outcomes from the TRNC.
Whereas some airways working from the South appeared to have softened their stance on the matter, easyJet – based by British Greek Cypriot Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou within the Nineties – appeared to be taking a more durable line.
Steerage on its web site on the “exit necessities in Cyprus” acknowledged that “vaccination and Covid-19 take a look at outcomes issued or taken on North Cyprus won’t be accepted”. Nevertheless on Thursday the reference to Covid checks from North Cyprus had been eliminated. It was changed with an announcement that stated: “For Turkish Cypriots, the one legitimate vaccination certificates is the EU Digital Covid Certificates . . . another vaccination certificates issued in North Cyprus won’t be accepted.”
Cyprus In the present day contacted easyJet for remark however had not obtained a response on the time of going to press.
Passengers took to Twitter to criticise the airline. Derya Devecioğlu stated: “easyJet are an absolute shame. Very all of a sudden selecting to discriminate in opposition to northern Cyprus. Didn’t have any downside with UK residents reserving return flights through the South however now making it tough by selecting to not settle for PCR checks from the north. DO NOT BOOK WITH THEM! Guide with British Airways or various flight suppliers.”
One other Turkish Cypriot wrote: “Disgrace on easyJet for its discriminatory observe of refusing PCR checks issued in Northern Cyprus. It’s NOT UK authorities coverage so why are you doing it?”
A Twitter person known as James Kirby stated: “easyJet workers refusing to board passengers from North Cyprus to journey from the republic of Cyprus, as a result of [they] don’t settle for the North Cyprus PCR checks, that is discriminatory. If PCR checks are accepted to cross the border then why shouldn’t [they] be accepted on the flight?”
One other individual wrote: “When you’re flying house from North Cyprus through Larnaca with easyJet or Wizzair please get your PCR checks achieved in South Cyprus as they don’t seem to be accepting checks from the TRNC and received’t allow you to board the airplane. Discrimination at its most interesting.”
In distinction journey recommendation from Jet 2 states that so long as a PCR take a look at is taken as much as 72 hours earlier than flying to the UK it could “undoubtedly be accepted, even when you’ve got taken it from Northern Cyprus”.
The British Excessive Fee in South Nicosia advised this paper final week that any questions on Covid-19 checks from the TRNC for the aim of journey from the South needs to be directed to airways.
In the meantime Turkish Cypriots have slammed a brand new utility system arrange by authorities in South Cyprus to register their vaccination certificates beneath the EU’s Digital Covid Certificates (EUDCC) system as “impractical and nonsensical”, experiences stated.
The system was arrange as a result of the UK and EU nations don’t at present settle for TRNC vaccination certificates as exemption for quarantine when travelling from the South, which is at present an “amber” nation.
Nevertheless solely Turkish Cypriots who’re “Republic of Cyprus” ID card holders and who have already got a flight booked are eligible to use, resulting in claims of discrimination as Greek Cypriots will not be required to indicate their flight tickets.
On Thursday it was introduced that the EU will settle for Turkish Covid-19 certificates at no cost journey to and inside the bloc, elevating hopes that these vaccinated within the TRNC might get hold of an EUDCC from Turkey as an alternative.
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