Turkish Airlines has announced the addition of 30 aeroplanes from Airbus to its fleet, 20 confirmed and 10 optional, as part of its expansion plans.
The country’s flag carrier aims to acquire a total of 105 new aircraft over the coming few years with 14 A321-200 jets and six A319 -100 jets due for delivery between 2011 and 2012.
The board of directors has also placed an order for the purchase of 10 A319/A321 planes, all with options, to be procured in the year 2013.
The number of single-aisle jets in the fleet will increase to 126 and the number of twin-aisle aircraft will rise to 36 between 2010 and 2012.
The total number of aircraft in the airline’s fleet will reach 168, six of which are freight vessels, by the end of 2012.
Turkish Airlines currently operates four flights per week from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Abu Dhabi International Airport and twice-daily flights between Istanbul and Dubai International.
The airline is now offering passengers residing in Turkey the opportunity to apply for UAE visas at its sales offices and authorised sales agents in Turkey prior to travelling.
It will arrange electronic visas for those travelling to either Abu Dhabi or Dubai for a Dh312 ($85) fee. Visas must be applied for five days prior to travel and are valid for 30 days from the issue date.
Requirements for this service are in-person application and a passport with minimum of six-months validity.