Turkish Air to start Kathmandu flights from September 1

Turkish Airlines — one of the leading European airlines — will start direct flights to Kathmandu from Istanbul from September.

The airlines will be flying on the Istanbul-Kathmandu route four times a week, starting from September 1, linking Kathmandu to the worldwide network of Turkish Airlines, according to general manager of the airlines for Northern and Eastern India Adnan Aykac.

The airlines will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays every week, he said, adding that the airlines wants to be a partner airline of Nepal. "Nepal can utilise the opportunity to attract more loyal tourists from the western world."

Nepal and Turkey signed an air service agreement in September 2010, allowing the two countries to operate 14 flights per week between Kathmandu and Istanbul. Turkish Airlines' Airbus 330 will fly to Kathmandu insuring high-quality service to passengers at reasonable fares, he said.

The flights to Kathmandu will not only contribute to the economic and tourism relations between the two countries but also play a vital role in linking Kathmandu with other parts of the world, managing director of Zenith Travels — General Sales Agent for the airlines — Joy Dewan said.

"Turkish Airlines will be the only airline that has a direct flight from Europe to Kathmandu," he said, adding that Nepal can take benefit from the air connectivity through Turkish Airlines.