Turkish Airlines targets 20% increase in passengers, USD7.1bn in revenue in 2011

Turkish Airlines confirmed it expects a 20% increase in passenger demand and revenue in excess of USD7.1 billion in 2011 (Reuters, 13-Jan-2011). Capacity is expected to increase by 29%. Long and medium-haul operations remain the carrier's priority, as well as increasing destinations to Europe. The carrier expects to handle 35 million passengers in 2011, a third of them transit passengers. Turkish Airlines missed its target of 31 million passengers in 2010, handling 29.1 million, growth of 16%.

Turkish Airlines: "We offer an alternative in markets where we are a new player. We are able to cover new trans-Atlantic destinations because of the number of our east-bound routes, and we cover new destinations in the Far East with strong European legs," Temel Kotil, CEO. Source: Reuters, 13-Jan-2011