Direct flights: Turkish Air launches service in city

LAHORE: The Turkish Airlines has extended its flight operations to Lahore, after providing services in Islamabad and Karachi. Round trip flights between Istanbul and Lahore will operate thrice a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from Istanbul, and on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Lahore. Minister for Education and Tourism Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Turkish Ambassador in Pakistan Babur Girgin, Pakistan Ambassador in Ankara Shaukat Haroon, Turkish Airlines Islamabad General Manager ALP Yavuzeser, Karachi GM Huseyin Cepni and Turkish Airlines In charge Zahra Tulin Akbulut inaugurated the operations at Allama Iqbal International Airport on Saturday. Khan welcomed the Turkish officials on behalf of the chief minister and congratulated Turkish Airlines on winning the award for Best Airline in Europe for three years in a row. He said Turkish Airlines was one of the fastest growing airline companies in the world and also won the Passengers Choice Awards from Skytrax, a consumer ranking group. He said Lahore was the second largest metropolitan in Pakistan and cultural capital, its rich traditions dating back hundreds of years.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2013.