Turkish Airlines has planned expansion of its operations in India by adding more destinations, increasing flight frequency, strengthening existing tie ups and improving brand image through higher ad spend. The airlines is also seeking permission to operate flights to and from more regions in South East Asia and Australia.
The air carrier wants to add Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata to destinations to cater to people flying to and from the gulf region. ?There is a heavy demand from Hyderabad specially. People also fly from Dubai and other regions in the Gulf to Chennai and Kolkata,? Turkish Airlines president and chief executive officer Temel Kotil said. He said the new service is likely to be started by next year only as Indian authorities are yet to give permission. Currently it operates 14 passenger flights to Delhi and Mumbai under a code-sharing agreement with Air India. Air India sells two business class seats and 10 economy class seats in every flight operated by Turkish Airlines. ?Once Air India joins Star Alliance, we can allow them to sell more tickets,? Kotil said.
The airlines, which is growing by 20% a year, is focussing on passengers flying to Europe, taking advantage of Turkey’s geographic location. “We are a gateway to Europe and our story is in making Istanbul a transit point. Turkish market is less important,” the airlines’ CEO said. The carrier has planned touching down at at least nine airports in South East Asia and Australia in next two years. “Manila, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Kathmandu, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Mangolia are some of the destinations that are in the pipeline other than in India,” Kotil said, adding the airline would fly at least two flight daily to these places.
(Trip for the report was sponsored by Turkish Airlines)
