Thursday, January 5, 2012

Turkish Airlines begins Gatwick to Istanbul flights

People planning to catch flights to Istanbul from south-east England now have an additional travel option following the launch of a new Turkish Airlines service from London Gatwick.

The carrier introduced the route last month and is offering daily connections to Turkey's largest city from the UK base.

Airbus 321-200 aircraft are being used to operate the flights, providing capacity for 195 passengers in a two-class cabin layout.

To mark the beginning of the new service, former Manchester United players Bryan Robson and Dennis Irwin made guest appearances at the London airport, reflecting Turkish Airlines' sponsorship of the football club.

Chief commercial officer Guy Stephenson said Gatwick was excited that the award-winning carrier had decided to expand its capacity from the base.

He added: 'Passengers will not only be able to enjoy the rich history of this magical city but also connect onto Turkish Airlines' unrivalled connections in the Middle East and extensive network in Asia.'

Gatwick has announced an ambition to become London's airport of choice and currently hosts services operated by the likes of Air China, Lufthansa and Air Berlin.