Flying to Portugal, Turkish Airlines outdistances world giants

Turkish Airlines carried the highest number of passengers from Asia, Far East, and the Middle East to Portugal through Istanbul and outdistanced its rivals in the same segment last year, the flag carrier's Porto manager told Anadolu Agency.

Turkish Airlines carried 285,908 air passengers to Portugal last year, of which 60 percent was transit, Ahmet Faruk Şahiner said.

"This figure includes many people of various nationalities such as Africans and Middle Easterners, but at least 50 percent of them were from Asia," he underlined.

Pointing to a gradual rise in the passenger number since the first flight to Portugal in 2005, Şahiner said the company aims to carry 300,000 air passengers to the European country this year.

Turkish Airlines flies to two routes in Portugal; to Lisbon since 2005 and to Porto since 2015.

"Passengers who visit Lisbon want to come back to the country to experience Porto next time," he said.

Şahiner also underlined the success they have in the Porto destination.

"We fly 10 times weekly in summer and seven times in winter. After four years, we set 100,000 air passenger target for Porto," he said.

Turkish Airlines connects Portugal to Africa and Asia, the manager said.

Carrying surfers from Asia

With great waves along its coast, Portugal is a top destination for surfers, Şahiner said, adding Turkish Airlines carries tourists especially from Asia to the surf haven.

"We carry the surf equipment for free for selected destinations so we become competitive price-wise," he said.

The flag carrier is organizing a golf tournament in Porto in June. "We used to sponsor golf tournaments. It will be great to organize our own," he said.

Şahiner also said...