Israelis' number two carrier Turkish Airlines expands fleet

Turkish Airlines plane  Picture: Reuters
Turkish Airlines plane Picture: Reuters

Turkish Airlines was second only to El Al for the number of Israeli passengers carried in 2015.

Turkey's national carrier Turkish Airlines is expanding its aircraft fleet. According to reports from US plane maker Boeing, 2016 will be a record year for deliveries to Turkish Airlines, with 26 new aircraft entering service: twenty 737-800s and six 777-300ERs.

The 2015 annual passenger report by the Israel Airports Authority shows that despite cool relations between Israel and Turkey, and despite that fact that Turkish vacation spots have been wiped off the Israeli vacationer's map, the country is still the number two travel destination for Israelis, chiefly for connecting flights to other places.

In 2015, Turkish Airlines recorded 19% growth in the number of its Israeli passengers, putting it in second place after El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. (TASE: ELAL), which carried nearly five million passengers. About 823,000 Israelis flew with Turkish Airlines in 2015, most of them, as mentioned, continuing to further destinations around the world.

Turkish Airlines' growing fleet now numbers 311 aircraft. The company posted a record net profit of $1.69 billion for 2015 on sales turnover of over $10 billion.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 2, 2016

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2016

Turkish Airlines plane  Picture: Reuters
Turkish Airlines plane Picture: Reuters
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