Turkish Airlines has applied for Indian aviation ministry's approval to extend the bilateral limits between Turkey and India to enable it to increase its number of flights.
“We want to increase the number of flights, routes that we fly from India. For this, the bilateral limits need to be extended. We, through our government, are trying to negotiate with Indian aviation authorities to allow us to fly more flights,” said Adnan Aykac, general manager (Northern and eastern India), Turkish Airlines.
Current limits are set at 14 passenger and 14 cargo flights per airline per week. THY flies seven flights each from Delhi and Mumbai and two cargo flights a week from Delhi and Mumbai. However the airline wants to add news routes to Bangalore and Hyderabad, and up cargo flight frequencies.
“Our load factor for passenger flights is around 95%. The yields per seat have gone up by 5% and we see about 20% growth in traffic from India. We will add more flights and routes, once the bilateral limits are increased,” said Aykac.