b720 wrote:great to hear of THY expansion, but I have the feeling it is RAPID. How is it being funded? and does the airline
have the infrastructure and capacity to maintain this expansion?
Despite some recent mishaps with Turkish, if I would have to choose between Biman and Turkish to travel to Dhaka, I wouldn't doubt to take Turkish. The other option is in fact no option.
The difference between Biman and Turkish is that the latter really expands, buys airplanes, does fly, commits to its obligations. Biman on the other hand announces already for years that they will buy new long haul airplanes ( but they lease old 777 and still use the DC-10
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Biman-Ba ... 05be6fb47c) , improve service ( but it is still bad as 15 years ago ) , expand the network ( but it decreases )
What Turkish its expansion concerns, you are certainly not the first one who lifts his eyebrows. If we compare it with the sudden rise of Emirates, there are major differences. The Turkish diaspora is much larger. Turkey itself has much more inhabitants and a single market. The country is regarded as a local powerhouse ( also economically ) . It has real tourism. ( who wants to stay at a beach at Dubai with the risk to be arrested ?
). It is also centrally located on the route between Europe and Asia and Australia. And you have more legroom on their airplanes : 9 in the B777 of Turkish and 10 with Emirates.
If it is viable in long term, we will see in the future. I am sure that IF Turkeye would join the EU, that there will be many changes at Turkish Airlines.