Aysu Biçer
15 June 2022•Update: 15 June 2022
ANKARA
AnadoluJet, a subsidiary of Türkiye's flag carrier, launched the first flights of next-generation aircraft that it added to its fleet, the Boeing 737-Max, according to statement by the company.
The aircraft, with the tail number TC-LAG, took off on its first flight from the Esenboga Airport in the capital Ankara to the Antalya Airport in southern Türkiye with flight number TK7024.
The company is making efforts to expand its domestic and international flight network with the aim of cutting fuel costs thanks to the new model's efficiency.
Another advantage of the 737-Max is its lower per-passenger costs thanks to its seat configuration.
"With the contributions of our next-generation aircraft that joined the fleet, we will add a new one of our strong brands to the sky and increase our share in the international aviation market day by day," said Bilal Eksi, the CEO of Turkish Airlines.
"We will continue to add to the steps to grow AnadoluJet in line with our guests' expectations with new, strategic decisions that we will take," he added.
Eksi said that AnadoluJet is operating with 52 B737-800 aircraft, and the fresh additions to its fleet raised the total to 54.
"According to our plans, we will reach 65 aircraft by September," he added.
The brand carried 5.6 million passengers with a 76% load factor during the first five months of 2022.
By the end of this year, the fleet will be expanded with seven B737-800 MAX, 11 A321 NEO, and two A320 NEO aircraft, the statement said.
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Wednesday that the country's national flag carrier would make its international flights under the name "Türk Havayolları," replacing "Turkish Airlines."
