Last month, Turkish Airlines took delivery of its first Airbus A350-900. Registration TC-LGA was the first of up to 30 of the widebodies to arrive at the flag carrier of Turkey. Yesterday, its initial international revenue flight out of Istanbul for the operator successfully landed in Manila, the Philippines.
Finally heading overseas
According to Aviation Updates Philippines, the A350 is set to take over from the Boeing 777-300ER that usually serves the capital of the Philippines. Therefore there will be a daily operation for the type between Istanbul and Manila until early January.
Since becoming part of Turkish Airlines’ fleet, the A350 has been conducting domestic services around Turkey. These flights were part of the process to help get the crew familiar with the aircraft. Over the last week, the plane had been flying between the two cities of Istanbul and Ankara.
High hopes
The aircraft is just one of many expected to join Turkish Airlines this decade. According to a press release seen by Simple Flying, the company’s chairman, Mehmet İlker Aycı, said
that the type is being taken on to help the carrier serve on both short and long distances.
“This significant order will continue to enable our flag carrier to further compete, expand and reach new short and long-range destinations nonstop from our hubs in Istanbul, and Ankara.” said M. İlker Aycı, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee.
“As Turkish Airlines, we are committed to offering our passengers on every route the best flying experience possible and we order on that promise as the Airbus’ A350 XWB provide comfort and convenience in spacious cabins, all matched with seamless reliability.”
The first of many
This flight to the Philippines is just the first international revenue service that we will see for Turkish Airlines’ A350 aircraft. The type is expected to conduct high revenue flights to the likes of London and Dubai.
Altogether, Turkish Airlines will be happy to finally deploying the jet after several months of delays in its arrival. The airline is determined to weather the storm as the globe tries to cope with new waves of the pandemic. Therefore, the aircraft will undoubtedly be an important asset in helping the carrier compete heading into the new year.
Simple Flying reached out to Turkish Airlines about this A350 flight to the Philippines. We will update the article with any further announcements from the airline.
What are your thoughts about Turkish Airlines’ Airbus A350 operations? Are you looking forward to flying on the jet with the carrier? Let us know what too think of these services in the comment section.
