Turkish Airlines starts direct Istanbul to Kathmandu flight

Turkish Airlines, one of the leading European airlines, started direct flights from Istanbul to Kathmandu from today, providing an alternative route to those flying to and from various European countries. The airline will operate roundtrip flights between Istanbul and Kathmandu four times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from Istanbul and Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from Kathmandu. Turkish Airlines is using Airbus 330 to fly to Kathmandu, which ensures high-quality service to passengers at reasonable fare, said the company. Turkish Airlines has fixed an introductory round-trip fare of 406 Euros, including taxes and fees, on flights from Istanbul to Kathmandu. It is also providing special offer to its members for the first six months of operation, which includes 25 per cent reduction in the miles needed to redeem award tickets and upgrades. Currently, Oman Air, Qatar Air, Etihad Air and Thai Airways are the major international airlines carrying European tourists to Nepal. Addressing a programme organized to mark the launch of the service, director of Nepal Tourism Board Aditya Baral said that direct connectivity between Europe and Nepal would support Nepali tourism industry. “The direct flight will not only contribute to the economy and the tourism sector but also play a vital role in linking Kathmandu to other parts of world,” said representatives of Zenith Travels, which is the General Sales Agent for the Turkish airline company in Nepal. President of the Airlines Operating Committee Bharat Shrestha said: “Turkish Airlines will be one of the preferred airlines for European tourists considering the distance and time.” Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, meanwhile, informed about the current situation of the Tribhuvan International Airport’s runway and suggested airlines to cooperate with plans of the aviation authority. Nepal and Turkey had signed an air service agreement in September 2010, allowing the two countries to operate 14 flights a week. source: Himalayan Times,