Turkish Airlines eyes 80pc load factor for KL flights

KUALA LUMPUR: Turkey's national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, is eyeing a load factor of more than 80 per cent on its Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul route.

General manager for Singapore Cengiz Inceosman said the airline is focusing on bringing Malaysians to Europe and other niche markets, such as Russia.

"Kuala Lumpur is a growing market for us. It will be one of the top five revenue contributors to our Asian operations," he said at a media briefing on the airline's inaugural flight to Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang yesterday.

The direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Istanbul, priced from RM2,000 per return ticket, will start on April 25, three times per week. It will be increased to four flights per week from June 17.

Turkish Airlines will fly Airbus A340 aircraft for the flights and switch to Boeing 777 by next year.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd general manager for marketing, Mohamed Sallauddin Mat Sah, said the airport operator is eyeing three more foreign airlines by year-end.

Air France-KLM has announced it will start its Kuala Lumpur-Paris flights on April 23.