Turkish Airlines deploys new aircraft to improve load factor

Turkish Airlines hopes to improve load factors on its twin daily services from Mumbai and Delhi to Istanbul with the use of brand new Airbus 330-300.

The airline says its current load factors are already high—at about 75% on an average last year — but would improve further, especially in the business class, with the deployment of new aircraft.

The airline carried 3 lakh Indian passengers last year and is hoping for 5-10% growth in traffic in 2011.

Till now, it was using Airbus 330-200 aircraft. Adnan Aykac, general manager, northern & eastern India, told DNA that it offers 28 seats in each flight in the business class.

“We have made huge improvements in the business class offering. Fully flat beds, full 15.6 inch personal screens, a brand new entertainment system - all these features should take business class occupancy this year to 70%.”

Last year, 65,000 Indians visited Turkey and the projected figure for 2011 is a lakh.

Of the 3 lakh Indians Turkish Airlines carried on its flight, about 85% were transfer passengers (passengers not going to Istanbul but onward to other destinations outside Turkey) and Aykac said with a large increase expected in Indian arrivals to Turkey this year, his airline’s occupancy should also grow substantially.
Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines has ended its ticket booking contract with InterGlobe Air Transport.

It will instead set up sales office in Gurgaon and tie up with various travel agents to service the Indian market.

“Our contract with InterGlobe ends in June this year. We have decided not to extend it as we are setting up our own office in Gurgaon. We’ll have separate teams for marketing, sales and ticketing. About 25% of our sales are from out of Delhi and for that we would tie up with travel agents,” he said.

Turkish Airlines has been in India for the last eight years and has now begun to study other potential markets within India to expand. As of now, it has a codeshare agreement in place with Air India for
Delhi and Mumbai  markets.

Aykac said that 40% equity in the airline is held by the Turkish government, but the majority 51% is with the general public.

Globally, the carrier has a fleet size of 200 aircraft and is aiming to be one of the top ten airlines in the world by 2023. And the Indian market is expected to play a big role in the airline achieving this milestone.