The Minister of Public Works and Transportation Erhan Arıklı has said that the government was aiming to complete the new Ercan airport by the July 20 Freedom Day celebrations.

Arıklı was speaking during an inspection tour on Wednesday at the new terminal building.

Speaking to reporters during the visit, the public works minister said that the new terminal and runway at Ercan was the country’s biggest investment.

He said that a team of 1200 workers were racing to complete the new airport so that it could be ready by July 20.

Arıklı also said that the plan was to convert the current terminal building into offices for general civil aviation operations.

Responding to a question on rising ticket prices, Minister Arıklı said that the only way to lower fares was to increase competition and to get more flights to land at the airport.

He also said that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu was currently holding meetings in Antalya for the creation of a new national airline.