İGA Istanbul Airport has signed a new partnership with Japan’s leading airline, All Nippon Airways (ANA). The flights, which initially operate three times a week, will strengthen connections between Turkey and Japan.
İGA Istanbul Airport CEO Selahattin Bilgen stated that with All Nippon Airways launching flights to Istanbul, they aim to further enhance connections across Asia and America.
Gala Dinner at Istanbul Airport
To celebrate the launch of All Nippon Airways’ Istanbul flights, İGA Istanbul Airport hosted a special gala dinner. Speaking at the event, Selahattin Bilgen emphasized the strong historical ties between Japan and Turkey, stating, “With this collaboration, we aim to unite the two countries through the skies and transport more passengers.”
Bilgen highlighted that Istanbul Airport is the world’s leading airport in terms of the number of international destinations, serving over 320 destinations across six continents. “Welcoming travelers from Japan and the Far East to Turkey or enabling them to use Istanbul as a transit hub is a significant step for us. We expect the number of weekly flights, which started with three, to increase in the near future,” he said.
Free Domestic Connections for Turkish Passengers!
As part of the new route, passengers traveling from Turkey to Japan will be able to fly to 40 different destinations, including Osaka, Sapporo, Okinawa, and Fukuoka, for free via Tokyo Haneda Airport.
All Nippon Airways President and CEO Shinichi Inoue announced that the first flight exceeded expectations, achieving an 80% occupancy rate. He highlighted that over 62,000 Turkish tourists visited Japan in 2024 and stated, “We want to bring more Turkish travelers to Japan. Our goal is to increase flights to seven days a week.”
Growing Japan-Turkey Trade Volume
During the press conference, Inoue also revealed plans to collaborate with Turkish Airlines (THY) and provide cargo transportation services. He noted that the most exported products from Turkey to Japan include dried foods, vegetables, and baked goods, with tuna making up 16% and apparel products accounting for 11-12% of exports.
Inoue highlighted that they operate one of the world’s largest cargo aircraft, capable of transporting high-tech products such as chips and satellites. He expressed a strong commitment to further developing commercial ties between Turkey and Japan.
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