“As Anadolu Jet, we will contribute from now on so that this city [Erbil], which was designated as the Arab Tourism Capital in 2014 can reach its rightful place among touristic destinations,” Samil Karakas, AnadoluJet chairman, told reporters.
With their fleet of 37 airplanes, they have had 50.5 million passengers in 2018, with 72 destinations, added the chairman.
“Connecting Erbil, which possesses a strong economy just like Diyarbakir and Gaziantep, with new flights will steadily accelerate the economy of this region,” added Karakas.
The airline is a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines.
They want to build an “air bridge” to eliminate the distance between Erbil and the two provinces with affordable prices, added Karakas.
“I believe that our Diyarbakir-Erbil, and Gaziantep-Erbil flights will offer new opportunities for both sides,” added Karakas.
Gaziantep and Diyarbakir are located in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority southeast. Diyarbakir, known to Kurds as Amed, is considered the capital of Turkish Kurdistan.
Turkish Consul General to Erbil Hakan Karacay was also optimistic.
“With Anadolu Jets, Gaziantep-Erbil and Diyarbakir-Erbil flights having started today, these cities got connected more closely. Not just the cities, but the people as well,” Karacay added, claiming that their Kurdistan Region “brothers and sisters” are happy with the flights.
The flights will help make “business networking easier and cheaper,” the consul said.
“That means we will have more and more exchanges of tradesmen both ways. The flights will have [a] positive impact on touristic visits as well,” he added.
There have been 1.2 million visitors from Iraq to Turkey in last year, revealed Karacay.
Newroz Mawlud, KRG Minister of Municipalities and acting Minister of Transportation and Communications revealed there will be six direct flights per week.
This makes Anadolu Jet the 20th company to provide direct flights with Erbil.
“The arrival of such airlines and the opening of flights between these two cities surely will have a particular importance in the sectors of trade and tourism. It will make cultural and trade exchange stronger,” added Mawlud.
She added this would increase the number of tourists on both sides, hoping this could further be strengthened and improved.
Turkey is an important trade partner with the Kurdistan Region through the Ibrahim Khalil border crossing. The trade volume between Iraq and Turkey, majority of which passes through the Kurdistan Region, stands at more than $10 billion.
