Ercan history

Foundation and Historical Context

The history of the area known today as Ercan is inextricably linked to the development of the Tymbou (Tymvou) settlement and the establishment of the island's aviation infrastructure. Unlike the ancient cities of Cyprus, Ercan formed as a significant geographical entity in modern times.

• Pre-war Period: Initially, this was the territory of a small agricultural settlement in the Mesaoria Plain, where life had revolved around farming for centuries.
• World War II: A key moment in the history of this place was the decision by the British colonial administration to build a military airfield here. The facility, named RAF Tymbou, was founded during the Second World War as a strategic airbase.

Key Development Factors

The transformation of the quiet countryside into a major transport hub was driven by several geographical and strategic reasons:

• Geography: Its location in the vast Mesaoria Plain provided the ideal flat terrain necessary for constructing runways without complex earthworks.
• Proximity to the Capital: The location is just a few kilometers southeast of Nicosia (Lefkoşa), making it convenient for supplies and logistics.
• Strategic Importance: In the mid-20th century, the facility served as a vital link for air traffic in the Eastern Mediterranean, providing landing and refueling for military, and later civil, aviation.

Early Features and Transformation

Before the advent of the airport, the region's economy was typical of central Cyprus.

• Agricultural Lifestyle: Local residents were engaged in growing cereal crops and raising livestock, utilizing the fertile soils of the plain.
• Infrastructural Shift: After the war, the military airfield was abandoned, but the surviving infrastructure became the foundation for the region's future main airport. It was the presence of a ready-made runway that predetermined Ercan's destiny as a modern "air gateway" rather than an ordinary settlement.

Major Development Milestones

• 1940s: The British colonial administration builds the Tymbou military airfield during World War II.
• 1947: Following the end of hostilities, the base is withdrawn from active service and mothballed.
• 3 February 1975: The airfield resumes operations by accepting its first civilian flight, marking the beginning of regular air travel.
• 1975: The facility officially receives the name "Ercan" in memory of the pilot Fehmi Ercan.
• 1976: Construction is completed and the first passenger terminal building is put into operation.
• 2004: Large-scale modernization of the runway and navigation equipment is carried out to meet international standards.
• 2012: Operating rights are transferred to a private consortium to invest in infrastructure expansion.
• 2016: Construction work begins on a new, modern terminal complex and an additional runway.
• July 2023: The grand opening of the new terminal takes place, significantly increasing the airport's capacity.
• 2023: A new runway over 3 kilometers long is commissioned, allowing for the reception of wide-body aircraft.

Evolution of Comfort and Technology

The history of Ercan's development is not just a change of dates, but a consistent transformation from a utilitarian military facility into a modern space oriented towards the needs of travelers. While the first decades of the airport's existence were dedicated to establishing basic logistics, the modern stage is characterized by a focus on service quality and the implementation of advanced technologies.

A key vector of change has been the drive to meet international standards of safety and comfort. Modernization of technical equipment has allowed the airport to accept aircraft of all types, significantly expanding the geography of flights and making the region more accessible to tourists from all over the world.

New Terminal: A Qualitative Leap

The opening of the new airport terminal complex marked the beginning of a new era in the history of the air harbor. This event radically changed the passenger user experience, offering a level of service incomparable to the previous infrastructure.

The massive renovation brought a number of qualitative improvements for travelers:

• Space and Ergonomics: The terminal area has increased manifold, eliminating queues and creating spacious waiting halls with natural lighting and intuitive navigation.
• Technological Processes: The introduction of modern baggage handling systems and an increased number of check-in counters (more than 60) have significantly reduced the time required for pre-flight formalities.
• Expanded Service Zone: The new complex offers passengers a huge Duty Free area, diverse food courts, and comfortable lounge zones, turning flight waiting time into a pleasant part of the journey.
• Aviation Capabilities: The commissioning of the new runway removed restrictions on receiving heavy long-haul liners, opening prospects for direct connections with distant countries.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Development

Unlike the historical cities of Cyprus, where architectural layers have accumulated over centuries, the appearance of Ercan is formed exclusively by the needs of transport infrastructure of the 20th and 21st centuries. This place is a vivid example of how a utilitarian facility transforms into a dominant feature of the territory, displacing the traditional rural landscape and replacing it with modern engineering aesthetics.

Eras and Styles

The architectural evolution of this location is clearly divided into three periods, each corresponding to a specific stage of technological development and changes in the functional purpose of the territory.

• Traditional Vernacular Architecture (Pre-1940s):

  Historically, the settlement of Tymbou was located here. It was characterized by vernacular architecture typical of the Mesaoria Plain: single-story houses made of local sandstone and adobe (unfired brick) with flat roofs and arched elements. Today, traces of this style are practically erased, having given way to airfield structures.

• Utilitarian Functionalism (1970s – 2000s):

  The old airport terminal, which served as the region's main air gateway for decades, is an example of late modernism and functionalism. The building was designed with an emphasis on practicality: simple geometric forms, use of concrete and glass, and an absence of decorative excesses. The main task was the efficiency of passenger flow, not the creation of a visual symbol.

• Modern High-Tech and Eco-Architecture (Since 2016):

  The commissioning of the new terminal marked the arrival of the high-tech style. This structure radically changed the panorama of the area. The architecture is dominated by steel, large-scale glazing, and complex engineering structures ensuring large unsupported spans. The project takes into account modern environmental standards, using natural lighting to reduce energy consumption.

Urban Planning Structure

Ercan represents a classic example of an "aerotropolis" in miniature—a territory where the entire layout is subordinate to the logistics of the air hub. Development proceeds not from a central square, as in traditional cities, but along the runways.

Key Objects Shaping the Appearance:

• New Terminal Complex: The architectural dominant of the district. The elongated building with rhythmic facade glazing, reminiscent of airplane wings, sets a modern tone for the entire territory.
• Runways and Taxiways: The strict geometry of concrete surfaces (including the new runway over 3 km long) creates a graphic pattern recognizable from the air, which is the basis of the facility's layout.
• Infrastructure Belt: A network of parking lots, hangars, and technical buildings designed in an industrial style has formed around the terminals, emphasizing the technical purpose of the location.

Outstanding Personalities and Historical Figures

The history of Ercan (Tymbou) is closely intertwined with the development of aviation on the island and the political events of the region. The list of significant persons includes both military personnel and politicians, as well as pioneers of civil aviation, whose efforts turned a former military airfield into an international hub.

• Fehmi Ercan
  Military Pilot, Major
  A key figure in the history of the location. The airport has borne his name since 1975. An experienced pilot and officer who died in 1974, he became a symbol for the local community, which predetermined the naming of the region's main air harbor.
• Turan Güçlü
  First Director of the Civil Aviation Department
  He stood at the origins of the creation of civil aviation in this territory. His managerial decisions and organizational skills made it possible to establish airport operations and train the first personnel for air traffic control in the shortest possible time.
• Aytekin Bilge
  Civil Aviation Pilot
  An aircraft commander who went down in history as the pilot of the first civilian flight to land at Ercan. On 3 February 1975, he successfully landed an F-28 aircraft, opening the era of regular passenger service.
• Hasan Özkan
  Air Traffic Controller, Public Figure
  One of the first air traffic controllers at the airport and founder of the professional association. His professionalism set the standards for flight safety in the region. He is also known as one of the passengers on that historic first flight.
• Rauf Denktaş
  Politician, First President of Northern Cyprus
  Played a decisive role in the development of the region's infrastructure. It was under his administration that the decision was made for the large-scale reconstruction of the Tymbou military airfield for civil aviation needs to ensure transport independence.
• Ersin Tatar
  Politician, Statesman
  Associated with the recent history of the airport. In 2023, he ceremoniously opened the new terminal and runway, marking the completion of the largest infrastructure project in the location's history.