The Istanbul-based Turkish Airlines has plans to revise its codeshare agreement with IndiGo. Turkish Airlines hopes to expand its footprint in India and also intends to tap into the rising transfer of passenger traffic from the country.
Mert Dorman, Senior Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Distribution Channels, Turkish Airlines, told IANS, “We are working with our partner IndiGo to enhance our partnership... We are ready to extend any co-operation.”
Currently, India is ranked as the seventh-largest corporate travel market worth $39 billion, making India one of the key markets for Turkish Airlines.
The existing codeshare agreement between the airlines was signed in 2018. A codeshare agreement will allow two airlines to sell seats on each other’s flights, providing passengers with a wide range of destination options. The current codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines allows the IndiGo passengers to fly to Turkey and beyond. Indian passengers made use of the arrangement to travel to various destinations across Europe.
Also Read: Indigo Adds A New A321 Neo Aircraft To Its Fleet, More Additions By January 2020
The new to-be-revised agreement may include new European destinations such as London. IndiGo may also add new flight services from New Delhi to Istanbul. Currently, there are two daily services between the destinations. Turkish Airlines operates 14 times a week to both New Delhi and Mumbai from Istanbul.
The new to-be-revised partnership will also look into ways to rope in IndiGo’s passengers to the corporate club program of Turkish Airlines. The airlines will also work with various other Indian companies to increase sales.
Turkish Airlines has 300 aircraft flying worldwide to more than 300 destinations. Turkish Airlines started its operations to India in 2003 by launching a service to Delhi and later to Mumbai in 2006. IndiGo, on the other hand, is the largest domestic airline in India, having a fleet size of 240 aircraft offering services to 60 domestic and 23 international destinations.