Pegasus Airlines start flights to Skopje

Turkey's leading low-cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines, has commenced flights to the Macedonian capital city of Skopje, encouraged by considerable passenger potential thanks to a large Turkish population in the city.The flight marks the beginning of improved transportation ties between the two traditionally close nations. Macedonia has become more appealing to Turkish visitors, and the same is valid for Macedonian tourists as political and economic relations between the two nations have been strengthened, particularly in the past few years.

Pegasus will direct flights from Skopje to İstanbul on Mondays and Fridays and to the Aegean province of İzmir on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at prices starting from 30 euros. A group of deputies, businessmen and reporters accompanied Transportation Minister Binali Yıldırım on board the first Pegasus flight to Skopje from İzmir. As he arrived in the capital to mark the beginning of the company's flights, Yıldırım met with his Macedonian counterpart, Mile Janakieski. The two ministers signed an agreement to establish regular flights between Macedonia and Turkey at a press conference held at Skopje's Alexander the Great Airport. The two joined an iftar fast-braking meal dinner later in the day.

Speaking at the iftar meeting Friday, Yıldırım said the government expected the increased number of flights from Turkey to Macedonia and the beginning of direct flights from Izmir to Skopje to boost bilateral trade and cultural relations. Also addressing the guests, Janakieski said they hoped to extend the partnership with Turkey in transportation and other fields. “With citizens from different religions and cultures in attendance this iftar is a clear sign of tolerance and harmony in Skopje, and the new flights between Turkey and Macedonia will add much to such values,he noted. Both Yıldırım and Janakieski thanked Turkish entrepreneurs who contributed to improvement of relations between the two countries.

Pegasus CEO Ali Sabancı said the company was happy to have the opportunity to add more flights at relatively cheaper prices.There are thousands of families in the old Ottoman city of Skopje and the rest of Macedonia who have relatives in Anatolia, İzmir and İstanbul,he noted. Sabancı said they could currently use only one third of this potential and expect to make the best of it with the new flights.Pegasus has carried 25.1 million passengers since it entered the market in 2005, 19.7 million flew for less than TL 100.The company enjoyed a 42 percent increase in passenger traffic in domestic flights and 26 percent in international flights between 2006 and 2010.

Meanwhile, Sabancı pointed out that passenger traffic between the two countries will increase even more with the finalization of a new passenger terminal at Alexander the Great Airport. The opening of the new terminal is slated for Sept. 8, Macedonian Independence Day. Turkey's TAV Airports Holding is constructing the new terminal building as they took over the management of the airport in March last year. TAV started construction work at the airport in mid 2010.