Turkey's national carrier may engage in cooperation with Russia
Release Date: 2010-05-13
Cooperation between Turkey and Russia reaches a new stage, as visa requirements between the two nations will be lifted. A natural extension of increasing travel between the two countries is the formation of a joint airline company between Turkish Airlines and Aeroflot, according to a top tourism sector representative
A pedestrian passes an Aeroflot office in Berlin, Germany in this file photo. Bloomberg photo
The establishment of a new airline company by Turkish Airlines, or THY, and Russia’s Aeroflot has come to the agenda during talks between Turkish and Russian officials Thursday.
The historic agreement signed between the two countries to build a nuclear power plant in southern Turkey has become a catalyst for strengthening links in other sectors, from poultry to construction and from tourism to aviation.
“The lifting of restrictions on visa requirements between Turkey and Russia [will be] of great importance in terms of tourism and trade relations,” said Ahmet Barut, chairman of the Turkish Hotels Federation, or TÜROFED. “An increase in flights between the two countries is surely expected, thanks to these agreements. This situation makes joint venture projects between the two countries an important prospect,” Barut said. “Within this scope, a joint venture airline between THY and Aeroflot may be revealed.”
The number of Russian tourists coming to Turkey, which was nearly 2.6 million last year, may exceed 3 million with the removal of visas, noted Barut. “This figure may reach 5 million within three years. Russia may get ahead of Germany, which is now in the leading position with its 4 million visitors coming to Turkey,” he said.
Even though there has not been an official agreement on the construction industry during the visit of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, it is one of the key sectors that is hopeful of improving ties.
“President Medvedev noted that he wants to work with more Turkish contractors,” said Erdal Eren, chairman of the Turkish Contractors Association.
“The positive approach of Medvedev toward the construction sector gave us hope, especially for future investments within the scope of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics,” said Mehmet Okay, a board member of Ant Yapı, a Turkish construction company.
Turkish constructors may grab a sizeable share from potential revenue worth $25 billion, including $10 billion from the Sochi Olympics projects, Okay said.
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