Turkish Airlines has announced the signing of a new codeshare agreement with Kuwait Airways. The deal was signed at the Turkish Airlines’ headquarters in Istanbul by Bilal Ekşi, general manager of Turkish Airlines, and Yousef Al-Jassem Al-Saqer, chairman of Kuwait Airways.
The agreement also coincides with the time when Kuwait’s tourism sector is witnessing a steady growth as tourists flock the Turkish cities for their rich history and culture. Bilal Eksi, general manager of Turkish Airlines, told the media that his company holds the title of the airline that flies to the highest number of countries in the world which is 124.
On the other hand, Yousef Al-Jassem Al-Saqer, chairman of Kuwait Airways noted that the new codeshare agreement will boost the two airlines’ business, provide more travel options, and the opportunity for its passengers to take advantage of the services provided by both the companies.
He expects the new codeshare agreement to not only bolster the relationship between Turkish Airlines and Kuwait Airways, but also enhance the relationship between the two countries. While Kuwait Airways operates seven flights weekly to Istanbul Airport, and seven flights to Sabiha Gokcen airport, Turkish Airlines operates 28 flights from Istanbul Airport, and 14 flights from Sabiha Gokcen.
Turkish Airlines carried 6.6 million passengers in June, which is a 3.2 percent increase from a year ago. The seat occupancy rate also increased by1.2 points to 80.3 percent. The number of passengers the airlines carried on its domestic flight increased by 1.3 percent, while the numbers on international flights increased by 3.6 percent.
Last year, the company carried 75.2 million passengers, both international and domestic. This year, the company aims to reach the 80 million figure. But the company carried 35.1 million passengers during the first half of 2019, a decline of 1.7 percent when compared with the same period last year.
According to media reports, Turkish Airlines has decided to temporarily replace its 12 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which have been grounded since March, with 12 737-800s from AnadoluJet.