International Market to Rise: Turkish Airlines is Aiming to Connect Antalya to India

The Indian aviation market is growing rapidly. With the passing of time, the number of international passengers from this market continues to rise. Globally, airlines are looking to exploit this passenger traffic and add more flights.

One such example is Turkish Airlines, which is looking to add flights between Antalya and India.

Turkish Airlines: Antalya to India

Antalya is the fifth-largest Turkish city in terms of population. It has various historical landmarks, beaches, and waterfalls to attract tourists. At the recently concluded International Air Transport Association Annual General Meeting (IATA-AGM), Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmed Bolat said that the airline is exploring opportunities to connect Antalya to India.

It is exploring the option to operate this route through SunExpress, a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa. SunExpress has a fleet of 71 Boeing 737 jets, with four leased Airbus A320s.

There is also a possibility that the airline can start this route via its codeshare agreement with IndiGo Airlines. At present, Istanbul is the only Turkish city to have a direct connection with India. Both IndiGo and Turkish Airlines operate daily flights from Istanbul to Delhi and Mumbai. Turkish Airlines has leased a pair of Boeing 777s to IndiGo to operate on this route.

This potential new route depends on authorization from the Indian Government. The government has been reluctant to increase the bilateral rights between India and Turkey. At present, carriers from both sides are allowed to operate 14 weekly flights. Both IndiGo and Turkish Airlines have fulfilled their quotas. The new connection will be possible only when the bilateral air service agreement is revised.

International Traffic From India Rising

Alongside this announcement from Turkish Airlines, Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi mentioned that the Hungarian carrier is looking to launch flights to India early next year. The domestic and international air market in India is expected to grow in parallel.

In 2023, India handled 152 million passengers, which is a new record for the country. This number is expected to reach 300 million by 2030. Similarly, the international traffic originating or ending in India is expected to reach 160 million by 2030. In 2023, India handled 64 million international passengers.

This market will be fuelled by the large orders placed by Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air. These three airlines have more than 1,500 aircraft on order. The fleet of Indian airlines is expected to double by the end of 2030. The majority of these new aircraft will be financed via the Sale and Leaseback (SLB) model.

Firoz Tarapore, the CEO of DAE Capital said that the demand growth in India is unparalleled in comparison to other regions. He added that if there is a strong price discipline and consistent demand growth, then it is a market where aircraft lessors would want to participate.

Growth in All-Rounder Format

In addition to airlines placing more orders, the government is spending a huge amount on building new airport infrastructure and upgrading the older ones. More than $12 billion has been set aside for this airport infra upgrade.

The MRO industry in the country is also growing. AIESL is exploring more options to expand its services. Air India has already started the work to construct its own MRO unit at Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport (BLR). Now that the Lok Sabha elections are over, the privatization process of AIESL and Alliance Air should gain pace.

Various global airlines are not happy with the Government of India protecting the Indian carriers by not granting the foreign carriers more rights. Emirates and Turkish Airlines are some of the best examples.

Conclusion: Turkish Airlines Antalya India Connection

Turkish Airlines is looking to add flights between Antalya and India. It is exploring the options of SunExpress and IndiGo codeshare agreement to make this connection possible. Wizz Air is aiming to connect some European cities to major Indian destinations. Lessors are optimistic about the Indian market, as the domestic and international market continues to grow.

What do you think about the new possible connection between Turkey and India? Discuss in the comment section.