Turkey’s national flag carrier Turkish Airlines’ (THY) first direct flight from the U.S. capital city arrived in Istanbul on Sunday.
THY started direct flights between Istanbul and Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Turkey’s Ambassador in Washington D.C. Namik Tan, as well as several U.S. congressmen and native American leaders were among the 202 passengers who flew to Istanbul with THY’s first flight.
Speaking at a reception held at Washington Dulles International Airport prior to the aircraft’s departure, THY’s Director General Temel Kotil said direct flights between Istanbul and Washington would help the businessmen, politicians and people of the two countries reach each other in an easier way.
Kotil said flights would be held 4 times a week in the beginning and would be increased to 7 flights a week in near future.
The director general also noted that Istanbul would become the meeting point of passengers travelling from Asia, Middle East and Africa to USA thanks to THY’s new flights to Washington.
Speaking to AA reporter on board the THY plane that departed from Washington for Istanbul, Turkey’s Ambassador in Washington D.C. Namik Tan said direct flights between Turkey and the U.S. capital would increase the human contact and eliminate the lack of information between the two countries.
Moreover, U.S. Congressman William Delahunt told AA that the flights were an indicator of the increasing awareness between Turkey and the U.S.
Delahunt also said Turkey offered great opportunities for U.S. investors, and the economic cooperation between the two countries should be improved.
Speaking to reporters upon his arrival at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport, Turkish Ambassador Tan said THY’s flights would carry the important relations between the U.S. and Turkey to a step further.
Describing Washington as the “political heart” of the United States, Tan said direct flights between the U.S. capital and Turkey would meet the needs of both politicians desiring to hold talks with their U.S. counterparts and the Turkish community living in Washington D.C..
AA