LOT Polish Airlines and Turkish Airlines launch 'strategic partnership towards future joint venture'

LOT Polish Airlines and Turkish Airlines announced (13-Aug-2015) "a major expansion" of their commercial ties, with the carriers signing a letter of understanding to "initiate an enhanced cooperation between relevant Polish, Turkish and beyond markets and also deepen commercial cooperation on the existing ones." The parties "have decided to implement a strategic partnership to make use of the possibilities to enhance benefits for their customers by offering them more connection alternatives and even better product." LOT Polish Airlines and Turkish Airlines stated: "This will give passengers opportunity to travel with convenient stopover and one ticket only to even more destinations across the world. Final model of cooperation has not been decided yet, however both airlines agreed to proceed towards future joint venture cooperation." LOT Polish Airlines CEO Sebastian Mikosz said: "LOT is ready to grow immediately as of 2016, and now is the best moment to strength equal cooperation with our key airline partners. LOT and Turkish Airlines have been partners for many years. I am convinced that this letter of understanding will help us to create unique and global offer. This will give our passengers all advantages of worldwide and supplementary networks of both carriers." Turkish Airlines CEO Temel Kotil added: "This strategic partnership between our airlines will enable both carriers to enhance their presence on their respective markets, while contributing their efficiency on the routes agreed within the scope of extended cooperation. Considering their membership to the same alliance group, one can say that such a strategic partnership will also benefit Star Alliance." [more - original PR] [more - original PR - Turkish] [more - original PR - English/Polish]