Turkish Airlines commences operations between Istanbul and Dar es Salaam

(eTN) The inaugural flight between Istanbul and Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport took place earlier in the week, marking the first time a Turkish commercial aircraft touched down

(eTN) The inaugural flight between Istanbul and Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport took place earlier in the week, marking the first time a Turkish commercial aircraft touched down in Tanzania. The maiden flight brought a large number of politicians, tour and travel operators, and media to Dar, where they were greeted by a delegation from the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority, the Ministry of Tourism, staff from the Tanzania Tourist Board, and member of the private sector, besides the local press and television stations on site to witness the event.

Sources close to Turkish Airlines (THY) have also confirmed that they will target transit traffic from their West and East European destinations and also from Asia and the US to fly via Istanbul to Dar es Salaam, and that the fares would reflect the cost advantage THY has over their nearest competitors. While business and leisure traffic from Turkey to East Africa is expected to grow, it is the transit traffic component which will more than likely make the route a success, and members of the Tanzanian tourism private sector also expressed their delight to have more seats at affordable fares bringing more tourist visitors to Tanzania’s beaches and game parks.

The airline will initially operate their flights three times a week but has already hinted at upping the frequencies when loadfactors have reached the forecast figures.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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