OREANDA-NEWS. March 30, 2012. At the Novosibirsk Airport  (Tolmachevo) was opened a first scheduled flight Istanbul - Novosibirsk - Istanbul by Turkish Airlines.

At 8:30 local time at the Novosibirsk Airport   landed a Boeing 737-800 of Turkish Airlines, performing the its first flight to Novosibirsk. On the ground passengers were met with the traditional bread and salt from representatives of the Administration of Novosibirsk region, Novosibirsk airport managers, journalists and photographers.

After the symbolic cutting of the "red tape" was held a press conference on the opening of a new route on the international route network  of the Tolmachevo Airport.

Participants were congratulated by the Director General of JSC "Airport Tolmachevo" Eugeny YANKILEVICH:

- The opening of this flight confirms the correctness of the chosen direction of development in attracting of new carriers. TurkishAirlines is one of the world leading airlines, so we hope that the flight Istanbul - Novosibirsk - Istanbul will be in demand. In turn, the Tolmachevo Airport is ready to provide the highest level of aviation security and ground handling services. And to create a comfortable environment for passengers in the near futurewe will begin the construction the connecting terminal between the two existing ones. It will significantly expand the area of the international sector and reduce the time of pre-control.

On the first flight Novosibirsk - Istanbul were sold 131 tickets. That accounts for 80% of the maximum load the aircraft. For the first flight it is considered as a very successful outcome which shows a favorable prospects of this direction.

First Deputy of General Director of "Novaport" Alexander BORODIN joined to congratulations:

- Negotiations with Turkish Airlines started eighteen months ago and today we can see a successful outcome of this work. The growth of passenger traffic in Tolmachevo Airport is now 33.2% that is almost two times faster than industry averages. So one of our main objectives is to offer to passengers new and interesting directions, including international ones. In the near future will be opened flights to Minsk and Dusseldorf and also flight frequency on the most popular areas will be increased. Also it is planned to start serving of  cargo airlines such as ACT Airlines (Turkey), Martinair (Netherlands) and the Yangtze River Express (China). Negotiations for creating conditions for unloading of foreign commercial aircraft at the Tolmachevo airport are underway.

According to experts, a flight to Istanbul will be interesting and demand among the residents of Novosibirsk and the surrounding towns. Rich architectural heritage of Istanbul along with the colorful dynamics of modern life is able to attract not only fans of ancient history and the exotic East  but also successful businessmen because Istanbul is also the business center of Turkey. Countless temples, mosques, palaces, churches and castles that remain in the legacy of the rich history of Istanbulno with no doubt will be interesting for tourism lovers and the famous Istanbul bazaars will satisfy fans of the original items.

According to representatives of the  Turkish Airlines the quality of the runway and airport ground handling service of the Novosibirsk Airport (Tolmachevo) was at the highest level.

- Istanbul is a Turkey business center where every day arrive thousands of businessmen and tourists from all points of the planet. Now Istanbul is connected via direct flight to a further major industrial city of Russia – Novosibirsk which business activity  allows us to predict a good amount of commercial load of the aircraft. This is the eighth city for us in Russia. If this direction will be in demand it will become a daily flight. A Novosibirsk citizens will have the opportunity of convenient connections from Istanbul to any country in the world. - Said Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Turkish Airlines Sezgin SAGLAM.

According to the Turkish airline, successful cooperation with the Novosibirsk Airport (Tolmachevo) will not be limited to the first draft. Negotiations on the opening of a direct on-line registration from Novosibirsk are underway.Also the prospects for collaboration include the opening of route  Novosibirsk - Antalya in the future and the performing of cargo flights of Turkish Airlines Cargo with a commercial landing in the Tolmachevo Airport.