Turkish Airlines launches direct flights to Isles

TURKISH Airlines yesterday launched direct flights between Istanbul and Zanzibar. The Istanbul – Kilimanjaro-Zanzibar- Istanbul (IST-JRO-ZNZ-IST) service consists of 3 flights per week.

The Minister for Infrastructure, Communications and Transport, Ambassador Ali Abeid Amani Karume, welcomed the move saying it is an honour for the Zanzibaris to work with one of the world’s successful and profitable airlines.

“… For the Zanzibar government, this partnership is welcomed for many reasons, because it does not only open tourism opportunities between respective countries, but creates new trade opportunities for our respective cities.

” He further said that Turkish Airlines certainly will attract more tourists to the Island and also give the local community departing from Zanzibar more options to make international connections. He called for Zanzibaris to utilise the chances to create a conniving packaged in partnership with Turkish people to increase traffic in tourism and other business in different sectors.

Following the addition of Zanzibar, the airline, which is best recognised for flying to more countries than any other airline, will now be flying to 293 destinations worldwide; 50 of which are in Africa. These include the east African city hubs of Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar, Nairobi, Mogadishu, Djibouti, Asmara, Addis Ababa, Kigali and Entebbe.

Flight TK567, will provide a direct link to Istanbul Atatürk Airport, from where passengers will be able to conveniently reach top global destinations such as Frankfurt, Muscat, Munchen, Dubai, Paris, London, Milano, Amsterdam, Zurich, Bombay, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Rome, Brussels, Berlin, Vienna, Hamburg, Tel-Aviv, Düsseldorf, and Prague.

”Turkish Airlines is in the business of moving knowledge, ideas, dreams and opportunities across the world.

We are here today to build yet another bridge between the world and Zanzibar, a bridge that will further strengthen the brotherhood between Turkey and the wonderful people of this land,” he said. Ahmet Olmustur, Chief Marketing Officer at Turkish Airlines.

Turkish Airlines, Boeing 737-900 with 155 passengers touched down at Zanzibar International Airport at 9.30 yesterday morning and received water salute in a traditional welcoming endeavours, before the engine was switched off to allow passengers to disembark.

Daily News