Turkish soars high in ME

Turkish Airlines reveals Q1 traffic results and sheds light on the most recent aviation trends. The number of passengers who travelled from the Middle East increased by 22 per cent in Q1 2018.

TT Bureau

The Turkish aviation and tourism is predicted to be catapulted to a new league with the opening of the new Istanbul Airport on October 29, 2018. The airport will have three runways and a capacity of 90 million passengers per year, along with additional flights and better connection time.
Commenting on the results, Muhammed Fatih Durmaz, Vice President—Sales, Middle East & Cyprus, Turkish Airlines said, “2017 was a successful year for Turkish Airlines in terms of our global fleet and network expansion and we have high expectations of 2018 as we continue to build momentum for our in-flight and customer service. Our network expansion has also been a pivotal step in supporting the increasing customer demand in all our markets. Through innovative features, our aim is to provide customers with the best possible options, both in terms of new destinations and innovative products and services.”
During the first quarter, increase in demand and total number of passengers was 22 per cent higher than the same period of last year. The total number of passengers from the Middle East region was 5.6 million last year. The airline seat capacity also grew by 11.4 per cent. Turkish Airlines also unveiled the results of a recent commissioned study conducted by Nielsen research on ‘2017 Aviation Trends in the UAE’ during Arabian Travel Market. Internet and mobile phone connectivity, fewer queues at check-in and even onboard gyms are just some of the items on the wishlist of the UAE’s airline travellers. Commenting on the study results, Durmaz said, “It is interesting to see how the travel and airlines industries are shifting with the transformation into the digital era, and how travellers are now relying more on automated services and convenience provided by technology. At Turkish Airlines, we continue to work closely with our different partners to provide our customers with the best travel experience and hospitality that make their journeys memorable.”
As Turkish Airlines strives to understand and consider the demands of its passengers, the airline’s last results are a proof of its success. In addition to providing convenient travel experiences to passengers, the top five image attributes given to Turkish Airlines increased significantly compared to previous period. According to the UAE travellers, its “safe airline” perception ranked equal first with its good reputation, while good service onboard, value for money, and flying to many destinations are the primary dynamics that made the airline an optimum preference for them.