AirAsia mounts Manila-Istanbul flights

MANILA, Philippines — Low-cost carrier AirAsia Philippines will mount one-stop flights from Manila to Istanbul as it looks to capitalize on a market yet to be served by a local airline.

The airline will launch one-stop flights to Istanbul starting Nov. 14, in line with its strategy to expand its international reach.

The flight will link Manila and Istanbul via Kuala Lumpur four times a week.

At present, flag carrier Turkish Airlines is the sole operator connecting Manila and Istanbul on a direct flight. All other carriers manage a one-stop flight like AirAsia Philippines, but most place their layovers in Doha and Dubai.

AirAsia Philippines will provide Filipinos with another option when traveling to Istanbul, which is home to some of the most famous landmarks of the ancient times. In particular, the city houses the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Galata Tower and the Walls of Constantinople.

Istanbul is a 1.5-hour flight away to Cappadocia, which travelers dream of visiting for its hot air balloon rides, rock formations and underground cities.

AirAsia Philippines president and CEO Suresh Bangah said the airline is entering a new route to stimulate travel and tourism between the Philippines and Turkey.

“The launch of this Manila route to Istanbul underscores our commitment to making world-class destinations more accessible to Filipinos,” Bangah said.

AirAsia Philippines is raising flight frequency and widening its network reach to keep up with competitors.

The carrier is also hoping to grow its fleet in time for the holidays.

In July, AirAsia Philippines scaled up its flight volume to Taipei to 17 times a week following the extension of visa-free entry for Filipinos. Taipei is also one of the carrier’s strongest routes, with over 70,000 passengers flown in the first half.

As of June, AirAsia Philippines has flown more than three million guests, and is aiming to hit 7.5 million by the end of the year.

AirAsia Philippines is preparing to scale up its fleet to 21 aircraft by year-end, from 15 currently, and this will be key for the airline to be able to explore new routes.