Turkish Airlines eyes daily flight to Malta

Turkish Airlines, the world's fastest growing carrier, is planning to operate daily flights to Malta - just a year after it launched its service to Malta from Istanbul's main airport. The airline currently operates five flights a week between Malta and Istanbul but CEO Temel Kotil told Maltese journalists last week he wants that extended to a daily flight. His comment drew a quick 'no problem' from the Turkish Airlines representative in Malta, Soner Aydin, who explained that the airline has been seeing a passenger load factor in excess of 75% in winter.

Turkish prides itself with the hub service is provides from Istanbul, strategically located between Europe and Asia. It currently operates to 250 international destinations - from Los Angeles to Tokyo and from Cape Town to Oslo. It has a fast-growing fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft including the Boeing 777 but does not plan on getting the Airbus A380 superjumbo because, Dr Kotil said, the airline prefers flight frequency. For example, it currently operates three flights daily to New York's JFK. Turkish has been growing by 17% per year and currently operates 1,500 flights per day, a number it aims to raise to 2,000 within months. Its biggest growth has been to Asia/Southwest Pacific and Europe, underlining its hub attraction.

Growth in the future will be accompanied by the building of a new airport in Istanbul (the city's third). The airline also prides itself with competitive fares, a superior in-flight catering service - even in economy class - and comfortable facilities for transit passengers at Istanbul Ataturk airport. Malta was the 100th destination operated by Turkish. About half of passengers from Malta go to Istanbul on transit - mostly to the Far East, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. But many are among the 11million tourists who visit the ancient city of Istanbul annually.

The Maltese can get a Turkish visa electronically without charge - in contrast to visitors from Turkey who need to pay for their Malta/Schengen visa. The airline has also been drawing traffic to Malta. Dr Kotil was quick to point out that he had been told that Malta was 'the best' for the teaching of English to foreigners, something the airline intends to build on.