Is Star Alliance Member Turkish Airlines trying to compete with Etihad?

Turkish Airlines is running additional flights on its Abu Dhabi-Istanbul route until July 19, the airline announced.

Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airlines is rapidly expanding to many international markets, and has a very prominent position in the United Arab Emirates.

With Turkish Airlines increasing flights, this will open up new interconnection into the rest of the Star Alliance network.

Turkish Airlines had been voted as one of the best airlines in service within the alliance, so this development is interesting.

There will be three extra flights each week operating with a 151 passenger capacity on board a Boeing 737-800. The additional services are running on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The increase in frequency out of Abu Dhabi comes at the beginning of the traditionally busy summer northern hemisphere travel period.