Turkish restarts flights to the US as FAA lifts restrictions
19 / 07 / 2016
Following the decision on Monday 18 July of America’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to withdraw its prohibition on carriers flying into the country either directly or via a third country from Turkey, the latter’s flag-carrier moved quickly to relaunch flights into the US.
All scheduled flights to the US operated by the Turkish flag-carrier were resumed the next day, starting with the 06.45 Istanbul – New York service.
Turkish Airlines chairman Ilker Aycı explained: “We saw no reason for the ban as all precautions were in line with the norms. Following our recent report and intense meetings, FAA removed the ban as expected.”
The FAA prohibition on flights entering the US from Turkey, regardless of an airline’s country of registry, was introduced at noon on 16 July, in the wake of the failed coup attempt launched the previous day.
Another Turkish carrier, Sabiha Gokcen International-based Pegasus Airlines, said that it “strongly condemn(ed) the coup attempt in our country on the night of 15th July with the steadfast confidence that democracy will and must prevail.”
Pegasus doesn’t fly to the US, however, so was unaffected by the FAA’s temporary ruling.
