Turkish Airlines carries 12.8 million in first quarter

The total number of passengers in the first quarter of 2015 was 12.8 million compared to 12 million in January-March 2014, according to a statement from the company on April 14.

The number of passengers rose by 5.9 percent on domestic flights and 7 percent on international flights, the company said. 

The seat occupancy rate declined from the same period last year by 1.5 percent to 76.6 percent.

Turkish Airlines also added 19 new destinations from last year, giving it a total of 265 destinations worldwide, 43 of them domestic.

The number of planes increased by 27 to 268 in the first quarter of 2015, the company said. 

Turkish Airlines expects to reach $12 billion in revenue and carry 63 million passengers in 2015, as announced by a written statement late Dec. 31, 2014. 

“By the end of 2015, the fleet size is planned to reach 293, including 214 narrow-body, 68 wide-body and 11 cargo aircrafts,” said the statement. 

Of the targeted 63 million passengers, 25.9 million are expected on scheduled domestic routes, 36 million on scheduled international routes, and the rest on charter and hajj flights, the company said.