Turkish Airlines (THY), Turkey’s national air carrier, has been awarded `Best Airline in Europe’ in the Skytrax World Airline Awards.
The win, which stems from a survey of over 18 million airline passengers from over 100 countries, marks the second year in which THY has received the thumbs up from one of the largest airline and airport ranking authorities, Skytrax.
THY were also awarded Best Airline in Southern Europe' and theBest Premium Economy Class Airline Seat’.
At the annual awards ceremony at the Farnborough International Airshow, held near the Oceanwide Properties UK office, the Chief Executive of Turkish Airlines, Temel Kotil, commented, `THY left behind Lufthansa and Swiss as direct competitors to become Europe’s best airline once again.’
`International fliers passing through Istanbul for connecting flights have increased by 47 percent. This growth rate shows that Istanbul is right at the center of world’s airline industry,’ he added.
Kotil attributes THYs growth to Istanbul'sperfect’ location – three to four hours to most of Europe, which since THY’s formation in 2003 has enabled it grow from a small 10 million passenger airline to one that now anticipates 38 million for 2012.
Plans are afoot to build a further third airport in Istanbul, with a capacity of 150 million passengers to further accomodate increasing traveller numbers.
The news comes as the International Investors Association of Turkey (YASAD) announced foreign direct investment interest to have soared, with forecasts that Turkey is likely to attract 10 billion GB pounds (16 billion US dollars) from overseas this year alone. An 11 per cent increase on last year has already been witnessed in the first five months of 2012.
Suleyman Akbay, MD of Oceanwide Properties, a firm based in Farnborough and Turkey that specialises in Turkish estate, comments: ‘Turkey currently lies in the `perfect storm’. While scepticism about the value of the Euro has certainly attributed to stirring up market opportunities in areas outside of Europe, Turkey’s steady whirr of financial and economic progression, coupled with the recognition it is receiving from its ongoing investment in transport networks, makes it the shining star to head for.’
THY offers regular international and domestic connections via Istanbul to key coastal resort airports, Dalaman and Antalya.
[Source: Invest in Turkey]
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