Turkish Airlines begins a Freesale Codeshare Agreement with THAI

Turkish Airlines (TK) and Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) concluded a Free Sale Codeshare Agreement that allows both airlines to market selected flights using their own code and flight numbers on a free sale basis within the scope of the codeshare agreement.

According to Dr Temel Kotil, Turkish Airlines CEO, “Turkish Airlines is pleased to join with Thai Airways International on this code share collaboration, which will expand potential air traffic between Turkey and Thailand.  Code-sharing with Turkish Airlines expands THAI’s network to destinations in Turkey and Europe that THAI does not operate.

The code share cooperation on flights operated by the two carriers also supports business and tourism conducted between Turkey and the Asian and Australian regions.  This agreement successfully feeds traffic from Turkish Airlines into THAI’s route network, especially to and from Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Australia.  In addition, Istanbul becomes another gateway into Europe for THAI on Turkish Airlines’ route network.”

Piyasvasti Amranand, Thai Airways International (THAI) president said, “This code share agreement between THAI and Turkish Airlines is a significant step forward to expand our respective market presence extensively into Europe and into Asia.  By code sharing with Turkish Airlines, THAI can reach many other European cities through Istanbul, which is another gateway for THAI into Europe as well as destinations in Turkey.  Both our airlines can look forward to mutual strengthening of potential markets through Turkish Airlines’ extensive route net into Europe and through THAI’s strong network in Asia and Australia.”

Turkish Airlines To Open New London – Istanbul Route in December

Turkish Airlines are starting a new 7 day service from London Gatwick to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (on the European side).

The flights leave London Gatwick at 13:50 daily arriving Istanbul at 19:45. The return flights leave from Istanbul at 10:50 arriving London at 12:50.

The new service begins on 20th December just in time for the lucrative Christmas and New Year travel rush. However, prices do not begin to drop until January when £150 returns (all in including taxes) start to pop up on the booking system.

Unfortunately the new flight times do not tie in with the Turkish Airline flights from Istanbul to Dalaman.

Annoyingly that flight leaves some 25 minutes earlier at 19:20 meaning those wanting to get down to Dalaman would need an overnight stay and fly the following morning.

So the new flights offer a budget alternative for those wishing to take a flight to Istanbul either for a break or as a stop over on the way down south, but they don’t offer an easy and cheap alternative when trying to get to Dalaman out of the season.