The Cyprus Turkish Airlines appealed to the British Court of Appeal, arguing that the ban restricts the freedom of Turkish Cypriots to travel around the world. All flights to and from the occupied territories pass first from Turkey, which is the only country that recognizes them as independent state.

The airline and its agency in Britain, CTA Holidays, argued that the ban on direct flights leads to increase in the duration of the flight as well as the tickets’ prices and greenhouse gases. However, the three judges decided in favor of the ban, arguing that otherwise not only would violate the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation but also the rights of Cyprus Republic.

The Court ordered the airline and the agency to pay the cost of proceedings on behalf of the British and Cypriot government.