Turkish Airlines is aiming to expand its operations in India by revising the current bilateral air service agreement. This planned expansion is part of Turkish Airlines’ broader strategy to capitalize on the growing demand for international air travel in India.
According to Erkan Erdogan, General Manager for Northern and Eastern India, Turkish Airlines, there is significant untapped potential in the Indian market due to the current limitations on flight capacity.
At present, Turkish Airlines operates 14 weekly flights between New Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul, utilising B777 aircraft with a capacity of 400 passengers. However, the airline is eager to increase this capacity by adding new destinations such as Kolkata, Hyderabad, Benglauru and Chennai. This expansion would allow Turkish Airlines to offer more direct flights between Istanbul and major Indian cities, thus enabling Indian travellers to explore a broader network that spans 130 countries.
Erdogan emphasized that the demand for transit travel from India to Europe, the continental United States, and South America justifies the need for more destinations in the bilateral agreement. Additionally, the airline’s codeshare agreement with IndiGo already covers six domestic destinations from Delhi and Mumbai, further facilitating connectivity within India.
