Turkish Airlines records double digit premium passengers growth in GCC for 2014

• Business and Comfort Class passenger numbers grew by 17.45 percent across the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait compared to 2013
• Total passengers carried in 2014 increased by 6.44 percent, with total cargo growth of 13.75 percent

Dubai, UAE; February 4, 2015: Turkish Airlines, Europe’s best airline*, recorded a double digit growth in 2014 for its premium cabins across the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait markets. Passenger growth in the airline’s Business Class, and premium economy cabin Comfort Class increased by 17.45 percent, while international-to-international transfer passengers increased by 9.05 percent compared to 2013.

Commenting on the significant growth for the airline, Adem Ceylan, Vice President Marketing & Sales for Turkish Airlines in Middle East & Cyprus, said: “Last year was comprised of several industry challenges in addition to economic constraints of the region. However our GCC market growth reflected our growth internationally where we carried 54.7 million passengers in 2014, up 13.3 percent from 48.3 million passengers for the same period of 2013.

“This was made possible through innovative pricing, enhanced products and services and careful route planning.”

During the period of January to December 2014, total passenger growth in the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait markets increased by 6.44 percent compared to 2013. On the cargo front, Turkish Cargo also witnessed substantial growth with a total of 18,783 tonnes carried in 2014 representing a 13.75 percent increase in the GCC for the same period in 2013. Turkish Cargo was rightly named Overall Carrier Of The Year and Combination Carrier of the Year at the Payload Asia Awards 2014.

As for Available Seats per Kilometre (ASK), Turkish Airlines again reported significant growth in these three markets with an increase of 7.94 percent, while the Revenue per Passenger Kilometre (RPK) increased by 6.70 percent as compared to 2013.

2014 total passengers carried in Dubai market increased by 9 percent compared to the same period in 2013. Business and Comfort Class passengers increased by 16.8 percent while international-to-international transfer passengers increased by 0.6 percent. Turkish Cargo in Dubai also increased by 13.8 percent.

As for the Abu Dhabi market, total passengers carried in 2014 increased by 3.9 percent compared to 2013. Business and Comfort Class passengers increased by 13.1 percent for the same period, while international-to-international transfer passengers increased by 17.4 percent. Turkish Cargo in the UAE capital also increased by 10.8 percent.

As of today Turkish Airlines has scheduled flights to 43 domestic and 218 international destinations in total 261 cities and 264 airports in 108 countries worldwide. Being one of the youngest in Europe, Turkish Airlines fleet consists of 262 aircraft comprising of 198 narrow body, 55 wide body and 9 cargo aircraft.

As ‘Europe’s Best Airline,’ for the fourth year running at the Skytrax 2014 awards, Turkish Airlines continues to impress travellers with its award-winning service and unsurpassed country network.