Turkish Airlines set to launch Istanbul – Kilimanjaro route on 4th December
By Staff Reporter
TURKISH Airlines is set to begin scheduled services to Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) from December 4 following an aggressive marketing strategy for the airport spearheaded by the Kilimanjaro Airport Development Company (KADCO). KADCO, the company that manages operations of the KIA has already secured $ 30 million from a Netherlands-based firm, Orion Grand Facility in a bid to transform KIA into a fully- fledged tourist's gateway by 2014.
According to the KADCO Acting Managing Director Bakari Murusuri, the agreement had been reached during the 18th World Route Development Forum, the largest global event held in Abu Dhabi (UAE) on Tuesday that sought to chat way forward on determining the future of air services.Murusuri said Turkish Airlines will operate five times a week with a B737-900 on the Istanbul Ataturk – Kilimanjaro – Mombasa route.
"This will be yet another milestone in our quest to be on a competitive edge. The landing of the airline will help connect Tanzania and other neighboring countries to markets in the US, Canada and Europe through Turkish Airlines network.
“We believe the airline’s entry will help open up provides more opportunities especially in the tourism sector since the region is home to unique tourist attractions,” he said. Turkish Airlines joins other global airlines that include Qatar Airways, KLM, Edelweiss air, Condor air and Ethiopian Airlines to fly to the northern located international airport.
