THAI Airways and Turkish Airlines have signed a joint venture (JV) agreement, aiming to increase the cooperation between the two airlines and increase connectivity in Asia and Europe on both airlines’ networks.
According to the announcement, for now, the two airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will have to be finalized. THAI and Turkish Airlines “will work towards joint venture operations to maximize the synergies that this strategic partnership offers to both airlines.”
The first commitment from both sides came at a meeting held in Istanbul, Turkey, on August 2, 2023, where the executive teams, including the respective Chief Executive Officers (CEO), participated to discuss the arrangement.
“The collaboration will provide an unrivalled choice of destinations in Europe and Asia for passengers of THAI and Turkish Airlines,” the announcement read, adding that the JV will mutually promote tourism to the populations of Thailand and Turkey, which combine for a total of 151 million people.
The announcement also highlighted that Istanbul Airport (IST) is “situated strategically to act as a hub between Asia, Europe, and Africa”, with Turkish Airlines offering unrivalled connectivity to various destinations throughout the globe from IST.
Furthermore, starting December 2023, THAI will introduce a daily flight to IST from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), strengthening the airline’s position as “the gateway carrier to Thailand, the Asia Pacific region and Australia”.
Previously, the chairman of Turkish Airlines Ahmet Bolat told Simple Flying that while the airline wants to fly to Australia, there are legal issues with flights to the country, with Turkey having an agreement with Australia of seven weekly flights. “We want to make sure that we really have 14 frequencies because in five or seven years we want to fly to both cities with the Turkish Airlines’ quality service,” Bolat added.
The official announcement of Turkish Airlines’ flights to Australia should come in mid-August 2023.
The CEO of Turkish Airlines emphasized that the new partnership with THAI “will enhance connectivity between the two regions, provide seamless travel experiences, and offer passengers a wider range of destinations and services through both airlines’ networks”.
“Our customers will be able to conveniently travel between Thailand and Türkiye as well as on to Europe and other points in Asia, making full use of the extensive networks offered by THAI and Turkish Airlines,” Chai Eamsiri, the CEO of THAI, added.
Both airlines are part of Star Alliance.