Turkish Airlines Passenger Growth in 2009 to Boost Turkish Air-Travel in 2010

The Association of European Airlines has just revealed that passenger numbers on Turkish Airlines flights grew 12.3% according to the blog of UK based Turkish realtor Spot Blue. According to a high up in the AEA Turkey is a massive market, with masses of potential for growth in the near future, but the administration needs to be more proactive in order to achieve the growth:

"After the United States Turkey is the most important market outside the European aviation area for European carriers, with passenger flows amounting to more than 25 million per year," said AEA Secretary-General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus in a statement.

"We have 'pen skies' with the U.S. and Canada, and a comprehensive agreement with Morocco. Traffic will increase if the conditions are right, and that includes reducing administrative burdens for airlines and travellers. This is particularly true if citizens are to be encouraged to visit the European Capital of Culture," Schulte-Strathaus added.

According to the bloggers at Spot Blue, the growth could spur further growth in the number of routes into Turkey from European and international Carriers, they write:

"This new announcement could prove to be very beneficial to Turkey, which has already had a string of airlines open new routes in recent months and years, but can always benefit from further expansion, especially from AEA members."

They then listed the entire AEA member list, which includes the big hitters: Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Lufthansa, Adria Airways, Aer Lingus, airBaltic and Air France.

Director of the firm Julian Walker expects there to be some really big announcements into the spring of this year.

"In 2009, when the world and aviation world were in turmoil and making cut-backs, Turkey's tourism potential became proven, with several major airlines and budget carriers from Britain and around the world opening new routes or expanding in the country. Now that the world is recovering 2010 can only bring more such announcements, potentially from carriers like Lufthansa and Aer Lingus, especially now that the new airport at Gazipasa is officially open," he said.

Spot Blue is currently marketing property for sale in Turkey priced from as little as £25,000

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