Turkish delight for Birmingham Airport as extra flights announced
BIRMINGHAM Airport has received another boost to its services with the news that Turkish Airlines is set to double its flights to Istanbul from the hub.
The airline will increase its services between Birmingham and Istanbul from 12 flights a week to double daily from May 30, 2016, offering more than 600 extra seats a week to would-be passengers.
Business passengers are expected to benefit from greater flexibility, plus access to the airline’s onward routes from Istanbul to 283 destinations around the world.
The airline has been a major advocate of Birmingham and since it began flights there in 2008 has grown steadily on strong demand. Starting with five services to Istanbul in December 2008, it increased this to seven weekly departures in January 2012. Later that year it increased to 10 departures per week and in December 2014 the airport welcomed news that the programme would grow to 12 weekly flights.
Selim Ozturk, General Manager for Birmingham, Turkish Airlines, said: “Birmingham Airport is a hugely successful base for us and we have grown significantly over the past eight years. This double daily announcement gives passengers even more choice and with 283 onward destinations via Istanbul throughout the Middle East, the Far East and Africa, Birmingham Airport really is the gateway to the world.”
Initially, flights will increase to 13 per week from March 27 and then to double daily from May 30.
Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive, Birmingham Airport, said: “Turkish Airlines is a fantastic carrier and partner to have here at Birmingham Airport. Starting eight years ago the service has gone from strength to strength carrying hundreds of thousands of passengers.
“I congratulate the Turkish Airlines team on doing a great job here in the region and increasing passenger numbers year-on-year, and for further committing to Birmingham Airport.”
