Turkish Airlines passenger numbers rise

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - The total number of passengers carried by Turkish Airlines rose 7.5 percent between January and October, compared to the same period last year, the airline revealed Monday.

According to the flag carrier's statement sent to Turkey's Public Disclosure Platform (KAP), the airline carried over 57.8 million passengers in the first 10 months of the year.

The number of passengers carried on domestic and international flights increased 8.3 and 6.9 percent, respectively.

Over the same period, the airline's passenger load factor or seat occupancy increased by 4.5 percentage points to 79 percent.

In October, the airline carried 6.2 million passengers, indicating an annual rise of 12.7 percent.

The company said the increases in passengers carried last month in its Far East, Africa, Middle East, and domestic lines were 10.3, 10.1, 12.6, and 12.6 percent, respectively.

"By the end of October 2017, number of aircraft went down to 329 from 334 [from] October 2016," it added.

Turkish Airlines said the company flew to 300 destinations last month, up from 292 in the same month last year.