News

Turkish Airlines touches down at Gatwick

21 Dec 2011 by ScottCarey7

Turkish Airlines is the latest carrier to launch services out of London Gatwick’s newly refurbished North Terminal with the inaugural flight from Istanbul Ataturk touching down yesterday, on Tuesday December 20.

The aircraft was welcomed by a water cannon salute as the pilot and co-pilot waved British and Turkish flags out of the windows to celebrate the launch of the new route.

The event was also attended by two legends from Turkish Airlines’ sponsors Manchester United, with Bryan Robson and Dennis Irwin (below) posing for photographs and signing autographs for fans in the terminal building.

As reported earlier (see online news November 11) Turkish Airlines will operate the route seven days a week, landing at Gatwick at 1250 and departing again at 1355 for a 1945 arrival in Turkey. From here passengers can connect onto Turkish Airlines’ network of 190 destinations.

Speaking to Business Traveller at the event, airline business development manager Simon Edwards said that the carrier has shown an interest in doubling up this Gatwick service to twice daily in the summer.

The route will be operated by the Airbus 321-200 aircraft, which flies 195 passengers in a two-class configuration (to see a seat plan click here).

Economy passengers have a 23kg luggage allowance and business class passengers receive a 30kg allowance, increasing to 40kg for flights beyond Istanbul.

Business class travellers and Elite loyalty cardholders will also receive complimentary access to the No. 1 Traveller lounge at the North Terminal, which opened in May (to see a review of the lounge click here).

Chief marketing officer of Turkish Airlines Faruk Cizmecioglu said: “We are proud to announce our exciting new link with Gatwick Airport. As part of our commitment to expansion throughout the UK, Gatwick will increase our UK portfolio to five airports. In turn we will be increasing our flight frequency in London from 30 flights a week, to 37 throughout this winter.”

The carrier already flies several times a day between London Heathrow and Istanbul Ataturk as well as operating services out of Manchester, Stansted and Birmingham.

For more information visit turkishairlines.com

Report by Scott Carey 

Photographs courtesy of Ali Haydar Yesilyurt

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