AEA: EU-Turkey air travel market - a growth market despite recession

It was against this backdrop that AEA Secretary General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus met with Turkish Airlines CEO Temel Kotil and his senior colleagues on January 25th, to review the state of the airline industry from the perspective of a large and resilient market which is at one and the same time an important part of the European network, but nonetheless not yet fully integrated into the European aviation area.

“After the USA, Turkey is the most important market outside the European aviation area for European carriers, with passenger flows amounting to more than 25 million per year”, said Mr Schulte-Strathaus. “Istanbul is the ninth-largest hub airport in Europe and, serving 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. Turkey is already a destination for 23 AEA member airlines, all of whom have an interest in minimising any barriers there might be to accessing this high-achieving market”.

Mr Schulte-Strathaus noted that the ongoing process of creating opportunities between the EU and its major travel-trade partners had largely by-passed this important market. “We have ‘open skies’ with the USA and Canada, and a comprehensive agreement with Morocco. Traffic will increase if the conditions are right, and that includes reducing administrative burdens for airlines and travellers. This is particularly true, if citizens are encouraged to visit the European Capital of Culture”, he said.

(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 03-Feb-10