Turkish Airlines, Gulf Air sign codeshare deal

By Dilara Zengin

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Airlines and Bahrain's Gulf Air have signed a codeshare agreement effective as of Nov. 1, the Turkish flag carrier said on Friday.

"The agreement will expand travel opportunities for the passengers of both airlines with jointly operated double daily flights between Bahrain and Istanbul," Turkish Airlines said in a statement.

A codeshare agreement allows two or more airlines to list certain flights in a reservation system under each other's names.

The codeshare will apply to flights to Bahrain's capital Manama and Istanbul by both airlines.

"Gulf Air and Turkish Airlines each operate one daily flight between Bahrain and Istanbul and, under the terms of this agreement, both carriers will place their codes on both airlines’ flights, operating between Bahrain and Istanbul," it added.

Turkish Airlines said the deal will broaden the commercial partnership between two companies while giving passengers more travel options between Turkey and Bahrain.

"We believe that this partnership with Gulf Air will bring a remarkable benefit to both airlines from a commercial perspective in rapidly growing relations between our countries,” Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Eksi said.

Turkey's flag carrier currently has 328 aircraft (passenger and cargo) flying to 300 destinations, including 251 international and 49 domestic destinations.