Today.Az » World news » Turkish Airlines to grow despite recession
03 February 2010 [17:33] - Today.Az
Turkey's flagship carrier Turkish Airlines, or THY, was one of three European airlines to post increases in passenger boardings in 2009.
THY drew attention with 12.3-percent growth and moved from seventh to fourth among members of the Association of European Airlines, or AEA, in terms of passengers carried, according to recently-released AEA 2010 traffic data.
"After the United States Turkey is the most important market outside the European aviation area for European carriers, with passenger flows amounting to more than 25 million per year," said AEA Secretary-General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus in a statement.
"Istanbul is the ninth-largest airport hub in Europe and, serving as European Capital of Culture in 2010, is set to consolidate its position further this year. We significantly expect more visitors to this beautiful city. Turkey is already a destination for 23 AEA member airlines, all of whom have an interest in minimizing any barriers there might be to accessing this high-achieving market," he said.
Schulte-Strathaus noted that the ongoing process of creating opportunities between the European Union and its major travel-trade partners had largely bypassed Istanbul.
"We have 'open skies' with the U.S. and Canada, and a comprehensive agreement with Morocco. Traffic will increase if the conditions are right, and that includes reducing administrative burdens for airlines and travelers. This is particularly true if citizens are to be encouraged to visit the European Capital of Culture," he said.
Schulte-Strathaus called on regulators from Turkey and the EU to discuss ways of further facilitating traffic for the benefit of consumers in both markets.
"The experience of 2009 tells us that the future shape of European aviation will be different to how it has been in the past, and new regulatory structures need to be put in place,” he said. “For European airlines seeking to regroup and rebuild, a market relatively unaffected by the downturn represents an attractive point of focus.”
AEA member airlines include Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, AeroSvit, airBaltic, Air France, Air Malta, Alitalia, Austrian, BMI, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cargolux, Croatia Airlines, Cyprus Airways, Czech Airlines, DHL, Finnair, Iberia, Icelandair, Jat Airways, KLM, LOT, Lufthansa, Luxair, Malev, Montenegro Airlines, Olympic Air, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, SWISS, TAP Portugal, TAROM, TNT Airways, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways.
/Hurriyet Daily News/
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