AnadoluJet, the brand of Turkish Airlines (THY), will also organize flights to Amsterdam, Tehran, Kiev, Cologne, Munich, Masel, Geneva and Lyon in addition to its direct flights from Ankara to abroad.
A press conference on new direct international flights was hosted by Gursel Baran, President of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO).
During the meeting at ATO, THY Board of Directors and Executive Committee Chairman Ilker Ayci said that it is their responsibility to connect Ankara to the whole world.
Stating that everyone has witnessed the great wounds caused by the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic in aviation and, accordingly, in the tourism and service sector, Ayci said, “Unlike all airports, the airport of our capital Ankara will not go back to the number of flights in 2019, and will have a flight network with a capacity of 30% more than before the epidemic with new flights.”
Ayci stated that THY broke a separate record in Europe by signing more than 700 daily flights on April 22, increasing the difference between it and its closest follower Lufthansa more than twice.
DIRECT FLIGHTS RISE TO 22 INTERNATIONAL AND 56 WEEKLY FREQUENCIES
Stating that they have increased the number of direct flights abroad with the works they have carried out with ATO in recent years, Ayci said:
“As of this summer, we will have 22 international lines and 56 weekly frequencies. We continue to spread our wings by taking our capital as the center. First, we are spreading wings over the whole of Anatolia and now abroad. These flights to be operated by AnadoluJet will connect our citizens, business people, tourists and everyone living in Anatolia and abroad.
Direct flights will be made from the capital with AnadoluJet privileges, 8 different cities in Germany, 2 different cities in Austria, Denmark, Sweden, France, 2 different cities in England, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Netherlands, Iran, Ukraine and Switzerland. I would like to express 8 new foreign destinations among these cities. Amsterdam, Tehran, Kiev, Cologne, Munich, Basel, Geneva and Lyon will meet Ankara for the first time with direct flights this year.”
He said that new destinations will contribute to the service, education, health and defense industry areas of Ankara.
Stating that they want to open the flight points requested by Gursel Baran, President of ATO, as soon as possible, Ayci said, “It is our duty to open these as well. I would like to announce the beginning of these flights very soon, here with you, to our Ankara and Turkey.”
“WE CAN’T WAIT TO DELIVER TURKEY’S NATIONAL VACCINES TO THE WHOLE WORLD”
Referring to the issue of distributing Covid-19 vaccines in the world, Ayci said, “I believe that Turkey will be one of the countries that confront and resist this injustice and immorality in the world with the introduction of the national vaccines of Turkey recently. Again, Turkey will be an example to the whole world. As the Turkish Airlines family, we are impatient to carry Turkey’s national vaccines all over the country and to the whole world.”
“TURKISH CARGO FLIGHTS HAVE 82.2% OCCUPANCY RATE”
Noting that Turkish Cargo grew by 17% in a period when cargo transportation was decreasing in the world, Ayci said: “We increased our market share from 4.7% to 5.2% in the first 3 months and rose to the 5th place in the world. While the companies in the world fly with 63.4% occupancy, we fly with 82.2% occupancy.
We have increased our capacity, planning, efficient use of resources and our transport share in the vaccine market and medical equipment market globally to 8%. We have become one of the world’s leading companies in the transportation of medical supplies, drugs and vaccines. “
Ayci also congratulated Turkish pilots on the occasion of April 26, World Pilots Day.
“WE WANTED START FLIGHTS, THY LISTENED TO OUR REQUEST”
Gursel Baran also stated that with the efforts of ATO, THY’s direct flights abroad from Esenboga Airport increased to 18 international lines and 46 frequencies in 2019:
“We are experiencing difficulties during the pandemic process, THY was one of the airlines that survived this process with the least damage. It also came to the fore in cargo service.
The medical sector in Ankara has benefited a lot. Life continues even though there is an epidemic. We wanted to revive our flights, THY did not remain silent to this request. AnadoluJet, one of the most important brands of THY, connects Ankara to all parts of our country. We are striving to make AnadoluJet a hub for international flights. I would like to thank everyone who made a great effort for the flights announced today.”
Baran pointed out that direct flights are important in order to increase Ankara’s exports, contracting service revenues, and improve health and congress tourism, and he asked for direct flights to Almaty, Ashgabat, Bishkek, Tashkent, Cairo, Amman, Beirut and Erbil, which would provide added value in this respect.
Following the speeches at the meeting attended by AnadoluJet President Said Samil Karakas, Baran presented various gifts to Ayci.
Source: NTV / Translated by Irem Yildiz