Turkish Airlines to launch Manila

Istanbul-based Turkish Airlines, a member of Star Alliance, will launch a thrice-weekly Istanbul – Manila service on board Airbus A340-300 aircraft from March 30. Outbound TK084 will leave Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 0100 for an 1800 arrival into the Filipino capital. Inbound TK085 will depart Manila’s Ninoy Aquino at 2050 to return to Istanbul at 0505 the following morning, in time for countless onward connections across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Turkish Airlines’ A340 come in a two-class configuration featuring 34 lie-flat business class seats (159-degree recline) and 236 economy class seats. Click here to view a seat plan. Turkish Airlines is rapidly expanding its footprint across the globe, the Asia-Pacific included. Last week it announced it will decouple the Singapore/Jakarta route. As such, it will serve Jakarta daily nonstop from Istanbul, instead of via Singapore. The carrier has also revealed to Business Traveller Asia-Pacific that it is “in talks with the Chinese Civil Aviation authorities for getting approval to fly more destinations in China” in 2015. It currently serves Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai. For more information visit turkishairlines.com Dominic Sebastian Lalk