The airline increased its regional flight capacity by 50 per cent last year by launching new direct flights from Istanbul to Hong Kong and Singapore. Prior to that, passengers had to make a transit stop in Bangkok.

With its Star Alliance membership pending next year, Turkish Airlines' move to Bangkok is strategic, Bahri Yilmaz, director for Thailand, Taiwan and Hong Kong, said

Having opened 24 new routes last year - a record for a commercial airline - Turkish Airlines will benefit from using Suvarnabhumi Airport to transport passengers, not only to Asia Minor but also to Europe, said Yilmaz.

Last year, its Asian operations accounted for only 10 per cent of its total business, which was about 17 million passengers with revenue per passenger-kilometre of US$18.4 million (Bt637 million). Yilmaz said the numbers of tourists and business travellers were equal.

Currently, 60 per cent of its passengers to Europe change at Istanbul to fly to other European destinations.

Yilmaz claims that Turkish Airlines still offers the best value for flights to Europe and has managed to keep transit times to an average of 60 to 90 minutes.

Most Asian flights that stop over at Istanbul land at around 6am, allowing passengers to reach any European destination in the morning.

Despite its European Union membership being in limbo, Turkey's central location as a gateway to Europe has enabled its national carrier to offer flights to unusual locations such as Moldova and various capitals in Central Asia.

The airline is now planning to use Thailand as a base to fly to other Southeast Asian cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta. Its Bangkok-Manila flight looks set to take off next month. 

Ki Nan Tsui

The Nation