Turkish Airlines to open India office
14 May 2011
New Delhi: Flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, is working out its expansion plans for India and has decided to open its own office here instead of operating through a general sales agency (GSA). So far, InterGlobe Aviation operates as the GSA for the airline in India.
''We are working out a plan for expansion in India,'' said Adnan Aykac, general manager of Turkish Airlines in India.
Turkish Airlines operates in 139 international and 42 domestic cities of Europe, Asia, Africa and the US.
According to Aykac, the airline is due to take delivery of 22 aircraft by the end of the current calendar year and would not lease aircraft. Currently, the airline has four Boeing 777s on lease from Jet Airways. The lease period is due to expire this year.
''We will take delivery of 12 Boeing 777s and 10 Airbus 330s this year and may not operate with leased aircraft,'' said Aykac.
Meanwhile, Jet Airways, India's largest private carrier by number of passengers carried has said it would not extend the lease for Turkish Airlines.
Of the four B777s, Jet will induct two B777s into its operations and will lease the remaining two to Thai Airways.
Turkish Airlines is looking forward to Air India joining the Star Alliance as it has a code sharing agreement with the Indian flag carrier. The agreement will allow the carrier to extend its operations further.