Turkish Airlines commenced non-stop service to its second point in Vietnam this week, Hanoi (HAN).

The 7,413-kilometre sector from Istanbul Atatürk (IST), inaugurated on 27 June, will see non-stop operation twice-weekly (Mondays and Wednesdays) on the Star Alliance member’s A330-300 fleet. Overall the route will be served five times weekly, with three of the five weekly services (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) operating via the carrier’s existing Ho Chi Minh service. Turkish Airlines is the only carrier to operate between Turkey and Vietnam, meaning no other carrier competes on these services. Turkish Airlines launched a second route on 27 June, a 2,976-kilometre link between Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) and Abu Dhabi (AUH). Operated on the airline’s 737-800 fleet four times weekly, the route will face direct competition from Etihad Airways, with itself commencing service on the airport pair from 1 July. On 21 June, the airline also launched a 2,411-kilometre link between the Turkish capital, Ankara (ESB), and Stockholm Arlanda (ARN). A route also served four times weekly, the Turkey-Sweden capital link will be flown on the carrier’s A320 fleet facing no direct competition according to OAG Schedules Analyser data.

Aenna