Turkish Airlines already flies to more than 350 destinations, more than any other carrier, so it must be increasingly difficult to find where it can profitably operate its fleet of more than 450 aircraft. The airline has won awards for its innovative financing methods and has now secured its first sustainability-linked loan for two Airbus A321neos.
Turkish is ready to launch new route to Chile
On Friday, Turkish Airlines announced it would soon connect its global network to the new and exciting destination of Santiago in Chile, the tenth country in which it will operate in the Americas. The new service will commence on December 18, 2024, with four flights weekly from Istanbul to Santiago, with a stopover in Sao Paulo in both directions.
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Once the route takes off, Turkish Airlines (Turkish) will serve 26 destinations in the Americas, adding to its extensive presence in the region. The outbound service from Istanbul Airport (IST), flight TK215, will offer seamless access to Santiago, providing passengers from around the world with convenient connections to Chile via a single stopover in Istanbul.
Photo: Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Pro. Ahmet Bolat said that as the airline that flies to more countries than any other, Turkish Airlines continues to bridge continents and cultures. He added that the launch of flights to Santiago reaffirms the airline’s commitment to expanding its global flight network with unparalleled connectivity options.
“We look forward to welcoming passengers onboard to experience our signature services and our world-renowned Turkish hospitality while discovering the captivating beauty of Chile, Türkiye and beyond.”
On December 18, Flight TK215 will depart Istanbul Airport at 20:35 and arrive at Sao Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) at 04:15 the following day, departing at 05:50 and landing at Arturo Merino Benitez International (SCL) at 09:45. The return flight TK216 leaves SCL at 11:40 and arrives back in Istanbul at 11:20.
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Turkish has put together some great offers for passengers transiting through Istanbul. These include “Stopover Istanbul,” which offers a free hotel stay for connecting flights with a layover of 20 hours or more, and the “TourIstanbul” program provides free guided tours of Istanbul’s iconic landmarks for layovers between six and 24 hours.
First Sustainability-Linked Loan to acquire two A321neos
Turkish Airlines prides itself on achieving one of the lowest financing costs in the industry and has been recognized with awards from organizations such as Air Finance Journal, Airline Economics and Global Transport Finance. Turkish has won more than 30 international air finance awards in the last decade for successful deals amounting to approximately $16 billion.
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Turkish has broken new ground by financing two Airbus A321neos with a multicurrency JOLCO structure containing a sustainability-linked loan facility. The facility is linked to the airline’s achievement of Sustainability Performance Targets (SPTs) with respect to its Key Performance Indicator of carbon intensity reduction of its fleet, aligned with international standards for the aviation sector.
This is a win-win, as using sustainably linked funds to purchase new-generation, lower-emission Airbus A321neos creates a virtuous circle of carbon reduction. Turkish is confident that this integration will foster its sustainable growth and fleet renewal strategy while contributing to its goal of becoming a carbon-neutral airline by 2050.
