ISTANBUL – Turkey’s steady emergence as a global economic power is pushing its commercial aviation industry to new heights.
The country already has one of the fastest growing airline industries in the world. And over the next decade, Turkish Airlines and other local operators – including Pegasus, Sky and Saga – could add up to 300 new aircraft to their fleets, according to Aldo Besile, Boeing's assistant director of European sales. The Turkish companies have already placed new orders for 57 new planes that together cost approximately 5.3 billion dollars.
“We predict that this healthy growth will continue,” said Besile. “As Boeing, we are happy to support the success of these Turkish companies’ corporate models with the highest quality products. We believe that the local airline market is right to be upbeat because this sector is really growing quickly in Turkey.”
The airline industry appears to be an upswing worldwide following the 10 billion-dollar hit it took during the global recession of 2009. At the recent International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) meeting in Singapore, airlines downgraded their combined projected growth figures for 2011 from 8.6 billion dollars to 4 billion dollars.
“Some of the external reasons for this decreased number were the costs of fuel, wars and disasters, and volcanic eruptions; all of which affect the airline industry,” said Besile. “However, Turkey continues to look very stable.”
The full article in Turkish was by Tolga Ozbek
Photo – Deanster1983
