Turkish Airlines launches flights to Congo

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Airlines added the Republic of the Congo’s second-biggest city Pointe-Noire to its flight destinations, the national flag carrier announced late Tuesday.

The airline will operate three weekly flights to Pointe-Noire with a connection in Libreville starting Tuesday, it said in a statement.

With the new flight route, the airline has reached 58 destinations in the African continent.

Kerem Sarp, the senior vice president, said: “As the flag carrier of Turkey, we cement our position as the airline that flies to more destinations in Africa than any other airline."

Turkish Airlines, founded in 1933 with a five-aircraft fleet, currently has nearly 341 aircraft, including passenger and cargo planes, and flies to 313 destinations worldwide in 125 countries.

Last year, the company carried 75.2 million passengers with a seat occupancy rate of 82%, and this year aims to reach 80 million passengers on domestic and international routes.