News from THY - Turkish Airlines

[hakan]

THY has announced that Istanbul Ataturk-Seoul flights will be increased from 5 times a week to 6 times a week effective 5.January.2011. In addition to that, these flights will be increased to daily from 27.march.2011 onwards.

THY is also celebrating the 20th birthday of its "Miles & Smiles" card programme with some special offers etc to its members on some flights between 15.Nov and 15.Dec 2010.

[hakan]

THY is inceasing some frequencies:

*Istanbul Ataturk-Osaka flights will be increased from 4 times a week to 5 times a week on 27.March.2011.

*Istanbul Ataturk-Singapore-Jakarta flights will be increased from 5 to 6 times a week on 8.January.2011 and after 27.March.2011 it will be daily.

*Istanbul Ataturk-Shanghai flights will be increased from 5 times a week to daily on 20.December.2010.

*Istanbul Ataturk-Damascus flights will be increased from 18 times a week to 21 times a week on 27.December.2010.

*Istanbul Ataturk-Shiraz (Iran) flights starts as 4 times a week on 14.March.2011.

*Istanbul Ataturk-Nevsehir flights will be increased from daily to twice daily on 27.March.2010.

*Low cost arm of THY, AnadoluJet has leased 2 ATR72-500 from BoraJet to use on some small and low pax airports:
Ankara Esenboga-Siirt
Ankara Esenboga-Canakkale
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW)-Usak
SAW-Tokat
SAW-Isparta
SAW-Canakkale

Siirt flights starts on 20.Dec.2010 and the rest of flights will start on23.December.2010


THY CEO Temel Kotil has told media in New Zealand this week that Istanbul Ataturk-Jakarta-Sydney flights will start in last quarter of 2011.

[Boeing767copilot]

According to the flight program confirmed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Transport, Turkish Airlines will begin to operate 3 weekly flights to Guangzhou (China) on 30th January 2011, 4 weekly flights to Los Angeles (USA) on 3rd March 2011, 4 weekly flights to Shiraz (Iran) on 14th March 2011. THY is also planning to start new flights to Malaga (Spain), Salonika (Greece), Valencia (Spain), Toulouse (France), Manila (Philippines), Naples (Italy), Turin (Italy), Genoa (Italy) in the year 2011.

[globetrotter]

TK will drop Dhaka if new deal with PIA goes ahead in April, they will also launch Lahore and Islamabad.

[BrightCedars]

I'm impressed with this thread and the long list of destinations near and far where TK is spreading its wings.

Are there destinations that are being dropped after a while as they turn out not to be as successful as expected?

[hakan]

Sorry guys, I have been overseas for more than a month. Here is the brief of what happened at THY:

*Istanbul Ataturk-Agri domestic flights re-started on 6.January as daily after the renovated Agri airport re-opened.

*Istanbul Ataturk-Tolouse flights will start on 28.March.2011 as 3 times per week and will be increased to 4 times a week after 3.July.2011.

*Istanbul Ataturk-Valencia flights will start on 27.March.2011 as 4 times a week.

*Istanbul Ataturk-Malaga flights will start on 27.April.2011 as 3 times a week.

*Istanbul Ataturk-Ho Chi Minh City flights has started on 29.December.2010 4 times a week via BKK.

*Anadolu Jet will start flying from Ankara Esenboga to London Stansted on 28.January.2011 as 3 times a week.

*Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki has chosen as THY's business class face on advertisements.

*American basketballer Kobe Bryant will be the THY's ambassador in the US and the world market.

Both sports people already appearing in THY's advertisements.

[globetrotter]

Kabul to come online this year as well, if aircraft avalable.

[hakan]

THY has sent a statement to Istanbul Stock Exchange saying that subject to aircraft availability and civil aviation permits THY intends to fly to Najaf and Mosul in Iraq this year.

They also announced that the frequency of Istanbul Ataturk-Vienna flights will be increased to 21 times a week from 18 times a week after 13.June.2011.

[hakan]

*THY has changed the optional order of 15 off B737NG to a firm order to be received between 2013-15.
*THY has leased 2 off A320-200 from Crescent Leasing company for 72 months. One aircraft has already delivered this month and the other will be delivered next month.
*THY intends to start flying to the following destinations this year based on aircraft availability:
#Istanbul Ataturk-Sulaymaniyah (Iraq)
#Ankara Esenboga-Gazipasa (AnadoluJet)
#Istanbul SAW-Canakkale-Gokceada (Istanbul SAW-Canakkale already in service)- (AnadoluJet)
#Ankara Esenboga-Baku (Azarbaijan)- (AnadoluJet)
#Ankara Esenboga-Batumi (Georgia) -(AnadoluJet)
#Istanbul Ataturk-Torino (Italy)

*Istanbul Ataturk-Agri flights have been increased from daily to 11 times a week as of 21.Feb.2011
*Istanbul Ataturk-Genova (Italy) flights will start on 4.May.2011 as 3 times a week and will be increased to 5 times a week after 27.June.2011.
*Istanbul Ataturk-Napoli (Italy) flights will start on 28.June.2011 as 3 times a week and will be increased to 5 times a week after 2.Aug.2011.

[globetrotter]

Torino starts 2nd August, thrice weekly A319.

Also the civil aviation authorities of Turkey and Bangladesh have signed a new agreement allowing Turkish Airlines to operate 14 flight per week.

[hakan]

Torino starts 2nd August, thrice weekly A319.

Also the civil aviation authorities of Turkey and Bangladesh have signed a new agreement allowing Turkish Airlines to operate 14 flight per week.

Globetrotter, THY already started flying to Dhaka, Bangladesh under TK078/9 using A340s.
Also, Turkish Civil Aviation Authority has signed agreement between Colombia and Madagascar CAAs. These agreements will allow Turkish registered airliners to fly to those countries.

[globetrotter]

I know but now they are allowed more flights to Dhaka.

[hakan]

I know but now they are allowed more flights to Dhaka.

Thanks for the update.

*THY is starting Istanbul Ataturk-Salonika (Greece) flights as 4 times weekly on 27.may.2011.
*Istanbul Ataturk-Barcelona flights will be increased from 14 times a week to 18 times a week after 31.May.2011.

[hakan]

Istanbul Ataturk-Toulouse flights will start on 18.April as thrice weekly which then will be 4 times a week after 3.July.2011.

Istanbul Ataturk-Ufa (Russia) flights will be increased from thrice weekly to 4 times a week after 27.March.2011.

Istanbul Ataturk-Hamburg flights will be increased from twice a day to 17 times a week on 6.May.2011 and after 27.June.2011 the frequency will become 3 times a day.

THY has changed the optional order for 10x A321-200 to a firm order. The deliveries will be throughout 2013. They also placed an order for 3x A330-200F Cargo planes which will be delivered in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Both orders are now placed with Airbus.

[hakan]

Istanbul Ataturk-Erbil (Iraq) flights will start after 12.April.2011 as twice weekly.

Istanbul Ataturk-Basra (Iraq) flights will start after 11.May.2011 as 4 times weekly.

Istanbul Ataturk-Beirut (Lebanon) flights frequency will be increased from 14 times a week to 19 times a week after 15.April.2011. On 28.June.2011 this fequency will be 20 times a week and after 1.August.2011 will be 21 times a week.

THY has also signed an agreement with FC Shakhtar Donetsk , an Ukrainian soccer club, for a 1,5 year sponsorship deal. THY will be their official sponsor and carrier.

[rwandan-flyer]

Hi

Is Turkish has the plan to add new routes into Africa ? I heard they want to fly to Kinshasa and Abuja. I think Luanda, Lusaka, Douala or Kigali could be served by TK.

[hakan]

Hi

Is Turkish has the plan to add new routes into Africa ? I heard they want to fly to Kinshasa and Abuja. I think Luanda, Lusaka, Douala or Kigali could be served by TK.

Dear Rwandan Flyer,

Turkish government in political area as well as Turkish Civil Aviation Authority (SHGM) in aviation area have been concentrating heavily on opening embassies and signing bilateral aviation agreements with African countries. I also heard about Kinshasa, but I haven't heard about Abuja and the other destinations you have mentioned previously. This doesn't mean THY won't fly to those destinations in the near future.

Lusaka (Zambia) and Douala (Cameroon) have more chance as civil aviation agreements between Turkey and Zambia and Cameroon already exist.

Fingers crossed!

[rwandan-flyer]

Ok thanx Hakan.

[TexasGuy]

Looks like Houston may be in the future for THY Would love to see them here

http://www.fly2houston.com/0/3917706/0/83280D83283/


“Turkish Airlines has already expressed both privately and publicly that it is rapidly expanding its air route development in the U.S. with Houston being a priority destination,” said Diaz.

Currently, Turkish Airlines flies direct to New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Houston will be the airlines’ first Texas stop. Turkish Airlines is a member of Star Alliance.............

[hakan]

Looks like Houston may be in the future for THY Would love to see them here

http://www.fly2houston.com/0/3917706/0/83280D83283/


“Turkish Airlines has already expressed both privately and publicly that it is rapidly expanding its air route development in the U.S. with Houston being a priority destination,” said Diaz.

Currently, Turkish Airlines flies direct to New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Houston will be the airlines’ first Texas stop. Turkish Airlines is a member of Star Alliance.............

Hi TexasGuy, Houston is definetely in THY's plan. They will be there soon. Get ready.

Hi

Is Turkish has the plan to add new routes into Africa ? I heard they want to fly to Kinshasa and Abuja. I think Luanda, Lusaka, Douala or Kigali could be served by TK.

Dear Rwandan Flyer,

Turkish government in political area as well as Turkish Civil Aviation Authority (SHGM) in aviation area have been concentrating heavily on opening embassies and signing bilateral aviation agreements with African countries. I also heard about Kinshasa, but I haven't heard about Abuja and the other destinations you have mentioned previously. This doesn't mean THY won't fly to those destinations in the near future.

Lusaka (Zambia) and Douala (Cameroon) have more chance as civil aviation agreements between Turkey and Zambia and Cameroon already exist.

Fingers crossed!

Rwandan Flyer, your information was right. THY's chairman Mr. Hamdi Topcu told this week that they are aiming to fly at least 10 African countries in the next 12 months. He also said that they would love to fly to Abuja In Nigeria too.

THY's biggest problem is "visa" applied to some African nations. He added that they work closely with the Turkish Foreign Ministry to develop a solution. Any African citizen who normally needs a Turkish visa will allow to to fly to Turkey and issued a visa at airport if he/she has a Schengen or U.K or USA visa on their passport. This will allow the Afican passengers to use THY. Mr.Topcu sees the lack of Turkish diplomatic representatives in Africa as a deterrent point for African potential customers to fly with THY as they can't get a Turkish visa.
He used Syria as an example. When there was a visa requirement between Turkey and Syria, THY was flying to Syria 4 times a week (2003), today there is no visa requirement between two countries and THY is flying 28 times a week.

He stated that they gave up their plans of buying Polish LOT, but they continue negotiations for buying companies in Tanzania and Russia. They are still interested in Serbian JAT.

Mr.Topcu said that a company established in Tanzania or buying the Tanzanian national airlines can help THY to establish a hub in Dar es Salaam to distribute African passengers to the world and African continent.

Meanwhile some frequency increases have been announced:
*Istanbul Ataturk-Tirana (Albenia) will be increased from daily to 10 times a week after 1.May.2011.
*Istanbul Ataturk-Astana (Kazakhstan) will be increased from twice a weekly to 3 times a week after 27.April.2011.
*Istanbul Ataturk-Alma-Ata (Kazakhstan) will be increased from daily to 9 times a week after 2.June.2011.
*Istanbul Ataturk-Genova (Italy) will be increased from 3 times a week to 5 times a week after 27.June.2011.