Turkish Airlines plans to grow in China, India through new partnerships: Chair

Expansion into more challenging markets, mainly including India and China, is a must for Turkish Airlines because a Europe-centered growth perspective is not enough, the company’s chair said on Oct. 11.

Turkish Airlines Chair İlker Aycı said expansion in markets east of Turkey would be possible through new partnerships.

"Europe-based growth will not be enough for us in the future. We are now rediscovering Asia and Africa, which will be quite key,” Aycı said in a speech at an Independent Industrialist and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) summit in Istanbul, state-run Anadolu Agecy reported.

“India and China – both closed markets with certain obstacles such as obtaining flight rights - are expected to dominate half the global markets in the next decade, so we must have a presence there if we wish to be a global company in the future,” he added.

Aycı also said Turkish Airlines is looking for ways to create new partnerships with companies that are not signed with Star Alliance, Reuters reported.

Referring to the under-construction third airport in Istanbul, he said the airline’s undercapacity problem would be resolved soon.

“With the third airport we will overcome our capacity problem. With the third runway, we will add more flight lines and expand our flight map,” Aycı said.

The first phase of the official opening of the new under-construction airport will be on Oct. 29 next year, Transport, Maritime and Communications Minister Ahmet Arslan said on Oct. 6.

Oct. 29 is the day Turkey marks Republic Day, commemorating the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.

Meanwhile, Aycı also noted that they are working on a plan to make Anadolu Jet, a subsidiary of national flag carrier Turkish Airlines, an independent brand that would be widely-used in neighboring regions.