Turkish Airlines starts direct flights to Eritrea

Turkish Airlines, the country's national flag-carrier, started direct flights into Eritrea's capital Asmara on Tuesday, increasing its number of destinations on the African continent to 42.

Flights between Istanbul and Asmara will occur three times a week: on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The starting price for an all-inclusive round trip is 464 euros.

Turkish Airlines announced that its operating net income reached 495 million Turkish lira and the net income 398 million Turkish lira in the year’s second quarter.

Turkish Airlines carried 26 million passengers in the first six months of 2014, having the capacity measured in Available Seat Kilometers (ASK) rise 19 percent, and the Revenue Passenger Kilometer rise 19 percent as well.

The company’s passenger load factor stood at 79 percent, the airlines statement said.

The number of transit passengers from abroad increased by 28 percent comparing to the same period last year, having the total number of international passengers increase to 44 percent.

Turkish Airlines flies to 260 cities and 263 airports in 108 countries. The company owns a number of 263 planes, including 200 narrow-body, 54 wide-body aircraft and 9 cargo planes.

According to the statement, the company continues to aim in being one of the world’s leading five-star airlines, by increasing its service quality and by maintaining a healthy financial structure focused on profitable growth.

Turkish Airlines were awarded by customers Europe’s Best Airline each year from 2011 to 2014. 

source: http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/142803/turkish-airlines-starts-direct-flights-to-eritrea