THY among top 3 European airlines in passenger increases

Turkish Airlines (THY) is one of three European airlines that registered increases in passenger boardings in 2009. THY stood out with 12.3 percent growth and moved up from seventh to fourth place among members of the Association of European Airlines (AEA) ranked by passengers carried, according to recently finalized AEA 2010 traffic data. "After the US, Turkey is the most important market outside the European aviation area for European carriers, with passenger traffic amounting to more than 25 million per year," AEA Secretary-General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus said in a statement released yesterday. "Istanbul is the ninth-largest airport hub in Europe and, serving as a European Capital of Culture in 2010, is set to consolidate its position further this year. We expect significantly more visitors to this beautiful city." He added that Turkey is already a destination for 23 AEA member airlines, all of whom have an interest in minimizing any barriers there might be to accessing Istanbul. He said the ongoing process of creating opportunities between the EU and its major travel-trade partners had largely bypassed this important market. "We have 'open skies' with the US and Canada and a comprehensive agreement with Morocco," he explained. "Traffic will increase if the conditions are right, and that includes reducing administrative burdens for airlines and travelers. This is particularly true if citizens are encouraged to visit the European Capital of Culture," a title Istanbul holds for 2010. Schulte-Strathaus further called on regulators from Turkey and the European Union to discuss ways of further facilitating traffic, for the benefit of consumers at both ends of the market.