Birmingham International Airport has today celebratedthe inaugural Turkish Airlines (TK) service to Istanbul.
The flight will operate five times a week from Birmingham
and provides Midlanders with the opportunity to fly
from their local airport direct to Istanbul for the first time
.
The inaugural flight, which left Birmingham at 1130 with 167 passengers on board, offers 140 worldwide onward connections
from Istanbul to major business and leisure centres, including
Bangkok, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Delhi, Bombay and
Singapore. The arrival of Turkish Airlines at Birmingham adds
a further 20 new destinations to the airport’s global connections
which has now reached 422 direct and one stop destinations
.
Joining the celebrations at today’s Inaugural launch, Paul Kehoe,
.
Joining the celebrations at today’s Inaugural launch, Paul Kehoe,
Chief Executive Officer of Birmingham International Airport, said:
.
"We are delighted to welcome the national flag carrier of Turkey
.
"We are delighted to welcome the national flag carrier of Turkey
to Birmingham and proud to have such a well established carrier
in our growing schedule. It is excellent news for the region as it
now provides even more connections throughout Turkey, the
Middle East and Asia from the Midlands"
.
"Turkish Airlines is joining Birmingham at an exciting time
and demonstrates that the airport, as well as the region, is
becoming a more attractive option for new airlines. We
look forward to working with the Turkish Airways team
and making the route a success"
.
Flights on Mondays and Thursday will arrive in Birmingham
.
"Turkish Airlines is joining Birmingham at an exciting time
and demonstrates that the airport, as well as the region, is
becoming a more attractive option for new airlines. We
look forward to working with the Turkish Airways team
and making the route a success"
.
Flights on Mondays and Thursday will arrive in Birmingham
at 1030 hours and depart to Istanbul at 1130 hours. The
remaining flights, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, will
arrive in Birmingham at 1215 hours and depart at 1315 hours.
The timings are to allow the shortest possible connection
times to the banks of worldwide departures from
Turkish Airlines’ Istanbul hub
times to the banks of worldwide departures from
Turkish Airlines’ Istanbul hub
.
Candan Karlitekin, Chairman of Turkish Airlines, Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham International Airport, Captain Koksal Koktuna, Turkish
Airlines and the Mayor of Solihull, Councillor David Bell celebrate the
inaugural Turkish Airlines’ service
.
The event attracted massive media coverage!.
Monday 15 December 2008