Here come the Turks!

TURKISH Airlines (Tk) is to start a thrice-weekly service from Istanbul to Johannesburg and Cape Town, commencing September 15. The airline has previously operated services to South Africa, but quit five years ago in March 2002. Rung Button, md of ITT, a Mediterranean specialist, was delighted to hear of THY’s return. She said: “Great news! It will do a great deal for Turkey as a destination. It has not been performing as well as it ought to because of lack of flights and relatively expensive domestic sector fares. I also think this will increase traffic to other eastern Mediterranean countries. A lot will obviously depend on TK's flight schedule from South Africa and also on its fares.” The airline has a mixed fleet, including 12 A330s and A340s, and apart from its intensive Turkish domestic network, presently serves a plethora of European destinations and several in the Middle East and Asia, as well as New York and Chicago. Its only sub-Saharan African destinations presently are Lagos, Addis Ababa and Nairobi (in a codeshare with Kenya Airways). Turkish Airlines became a member of the Star Alliance last year. Brought to you by eTNW... Kate Nathan (katen@nowmedia.co.za)