Continued Growth of Turkish Airlines Coincides with Increase in Tourism of Turkey

International Carrier Finds 25.8 Percent Jump in Global 2013 Ticket Sales Compared to 2012

Turkish Airlines, recently voted Europe’s Best Airline at the 2013 Skytrax Passengers Choice Awards for the third consecutive year, announced marked growth in passengers flying to Turkey and many of its other international destinations. The flag carrier of Turkey has experienced a dramatic increase in ticket sales for several years partially as a result of a steep increase in tourism of Turkey. Boasting an incredibly rich culture and history that spans civilizations over 10,000 years coupled with white-sand beaches and crystal clear waters, Turkey is a favorite holiday destination for many around the globe.

“Turkey’s large-scale infrastructure projects, such as Istanbul’s third bridge, third airport and Kanal Istanbul, are important indicators of the stability and confidence in the future of our country”

Between January and June 2013, Turkish Airlines saw a 25.8 percent increase in global ticket sales over the same period in 2012, a total of more than 22.4 million passengers. The international carrier’s U.S. ticket sales to Turkey jumped 10 percent between May and June 2013 compared to the same months last year. Turkish Airlines’ largest increase in passengers came from Africa, which had a 36.9 percent increase in ticket sales compared to 2012, with Somalia leading the way at 247 percent.

Turkish Airlines’ growth in number of passengers comes at a time when Turkey is enjoying a significant growth in tourism. The country welcomed 10.5 million non-Turkish visitors between January and May 2013, an 18.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Part of this growth is attributed to business travelers as Turkey becomes a worldwide hub for international business with many ambitious projects underway.

“Turkey’s large-scale infrastructure projects, such as Istanbul’s third bridge, third airport and Kanal Istanbul, are important indicators of the stability and confidence in the future of our country,” states Hüseyin Avni Mutlu, Mayor of Istanbul.

In addition to being awarded Europe’s Best Airline three times in a row, Turkish Airlines was also awarded “Best Business Class Catering” at the 2013 Skytrax Passengers Choice Awards for its Flying Chef service on long flights. The Flying Chefs offer passengers a taste of Turkey, with freshly prepared traditional Turkish dishes and a roving meze cart.

“This is an exciting time for the airline, having recently announced our 235th gateway while enjoying a remarkable increase in global passengers,” states Temel Kotil, Ph.D., CEO of Turkish Airlines. “We welcome all travelers from across the globe to enjoy the unparalleled experience that comes with flying on our airline.”

Located on the crossroads of Anatolia in Western Asia and Southeastern Europe and bordering eight countries, Turkey’s is one of the world’s top travel destinations, with Istanbul now a major hub for international travel. Turkey was recently ranked seventh on Trip Advisor’s list of Travelers’ Choice Destinations for 2012.

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Mokulele Airlines Announces New Daily Service Between Kona And Kapalua

Service begins on July 19, 2013 with an introductory rate of just $59 one way for reservations made by June 15.

Mokulele Airlines, Hawai'i's low-cost interisland air carrier, has announced that effective July 19, 2013, it will begin offering service between Kona International Airport on the Big Island and Kapalua Airport on Maui. "Many passengers who are traveling to Maui are going to Kapalua, the Ka'anapali resort area, Lahaina or other destinations on the west side of the island," explains Mokulele President and CEO Ron Hansen. 

"Now, with our new Kona-Kapalua route, travelers who are visiting West Maui won't have to make the drive to and from Kahului Airport, which can take 40 or more minutes each way. In addition, most major car rental agencies are represented at or near the Kapalua Airport."

Mokulele will operate four daily flights between Kona to Kapalua. When the new service launches on July 19, Mokulele will become the first airline to operate regular service between the two cities. To celebrate the new route, Mokulele is offering an introductory rate of just $59 one way, including taxes and fees, for reservations made for flights between Kona and Kapalua in the month of July. The $59 fares are based on availability, and reservations can be made online at www.mokuleleairlines.com.

Mokulele Airlines, flying the skies of Hawai'i since 1994, was purchased by TransPac Aviation, Inc. in 2011 with a goal of providing high quality, low-cost interisland air service. Mokulele, which is headquartered in Kailua-Kona, now offers up to 100 flights a day connecting O'ahu, Moloka'i, Lana'i, Maui and the Big Island on its fleet of nine-passenger, turbine-powered Cessna Grand Caravans.

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Rolls-Royce wins $1bn order from Scandinavian Airlines System

Rolls-Royce has won an order worth $1 billion, at list prices, from Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) for Trent XWB and Trent 700 engines and long term TotalCare® services.

The Trent XWBs will power eight Airbus A350-900 aircraft and the Trent 700s will power four A330-300s.

Rickard Gustafson, SAS Group President and CEO, said: “Today, we launch an extensive fleet renewal plan that gives SAS a state of the art long haul fleet. To maximize the fuel efficiency and reach of our aircraft, we have selected engines from Rolls-Royce. I’m very pleased with Rolls-Royce as our engine partner, who will contribute to offering our customers a comfortable and efficient journey.”

Eric Schulz, Rolls-Royce, President - Civil Large Engines, said: “This is a significant order for the Trent XWB, the most efficient engine in the world today, and the Trent 700, which is a clear market leader. We look forward to developing our relationship with SAS.”

The Trent XWB, specifically designed for the Airbus A350 XWB, is the fastest selling Trent engine ever, with more than 1,400 already on order. It powered the first test flight of the A350 XWB at Toulouse on 14 June this year.

The Trent 700 is the market leader on the A330 with more than 1,500 sold or on order. It has won 70 per cent of new orders in the last four years.

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