Turkish Airlines is succeeding in delivering more destinations than any other airline out there. The Turkish air carrier last week introduced a brand new service to Xi'an in China whilst also adding Malabo to its route network. The airline now offers its passengers a choice of 318 destinations worldwide.
Heading up the Silk Road
The end of December 2019 was a particularly exciting time for Turkish Airlines as it received additional Airbus A330 aircraft to its fleet. It took delivery of former WOW Air's aircraft, TC-LOL, on 27th December which was its 68th A330. But the airline's developments didn't stop there.
On 30th December 2019, Turkish Airlines issued a press release announcing its latest destination. The airline will now be offering flights to Xi'an in China, the starting point of the esteemed Silk Road. And the aircraft that it will use to carry out this operation? The Airbus A330.
Turkish Airlines was proud to release details of its new service. It said that the service will operate three times a week.
Flight TK 196 will leave Istanbul at 01:55 and arrive at Xianyang International Airport at 16:10 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The returning flight TK 197 will leave Xi'an at 00:35 and arrive at Istanbul Airport at 16:10 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
The destination was added to Turkish Airlines' route network on 30th December 2019.
Why invest in Xi'an?
The General Manager at Turkish Airlines hopes that the new route will generate additional tourism between the two countries. Particularly, Bilal Ekşi is confident that the new operation will bring more tourist investment into notable Turkish points of interest. Speaking in the press release, Mr. Ekşi said:
“We conclude the year by adding a very special city to our flight network after numerous innovations in various areas... We will carry our guests to 126 countries from Xi’an, one of the most significant historical capitals...Our new flights will also contribute to the tourist numbers coming to our country with the increasing attention from Chinese tourists to tourism centers of Turkey.”
Malabo service for the new year
But Turkish Airlines also quietly released another route network addition by offering its passengers the chance to fly to Malabo. Malabo is situated on the island of Bioko off the coast of Cameroon, although its the capital of Equatorial Guinea.
Turkish Airlines will be flying to this largely unheard of city three times a week. Though it will be a direct flight, the service will have a stopover in Port Harcourt in Nigeria on the way. This 45-minute stopover will give the total service a flight time of nine hours and 15 minutes.
Unlike the Xi'an service, however, Turkish Airlines will not begin operating this flight until 7th February 2020. For the flight, the airline will use its Boeing 737-900 aircraft.
An unstoppable force?
With the addition of these new destinations to Turkish Airlines' calendar for 2020, it seems as though the air carrier is becoming an unstoppable force. It flies to more destinations than any other airline and it's continuing to build on its success.
With such a poignant logistical position in the world, it is able to make its routes profitable. By operating in China, the airline is able to bring African passengers to the center of the world and offer convenient flights to Europe or Asia. It's not just in Turkish tourism where it makes its money but in connecting the world as a whole.
Will you be flying on any of Turkish Airlines' new routes? Where do you think it will expand its route network? Let us know in the comments below.