Dubai Most Profitable ME Route For Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines’ profits on its Dubai route totalled €21.5 million last year, a three-fold rise on 2010, making the city the most profitable in its regional network.

Speaking at the official opening of a new sales office in Emaar Square today, Ayse Misirli Mirza, general manager for Turkish Airlines in Dubai, said the route has seen a 16 per cent growth in business class passenger revenue and 36 per cent jump in passenger traffic during the last two years.

HE Şefik Vural Altay, Turkey’s ambassador to the UAE, said bilateral relations with the UAE “is perfect in all spheres”.

“I’m sure in the months and years to come, Turkish Airlines will fly more often to Dubai and Abu Dhabi,” he said.

Mirza said Abu Dhabi has increased from four to six times weekly but right now it has no plans to increase Dubai-Istanbul from its current double daily services.

Last year the airline, a member of the Star Alliance, carried 332,719 passengers to the UAE.

Turkey recently unveiled plans to build ‘the world’s largest airport’, which would place it in competition for global transfer traffic with Dubai World Central and other Gulf hubs.