Turkish Airlines Opens Services To Kano

Gov. Rabi'u Kwankwaso receiving a Turkish Airline's  model aircraft gift from the airline's Vice President, Merlut Kayar

As Turkish Airlines commenced scheduled flights between Istanbul, Turkey to Kano, Nigeria at the weekend, Friday, December 13, the Governor of Kano State, Ahlaji Rabi'u Kwankwaso has described it as further means in strengthening relationship between Turky and Kano State.

Governor Kwankwaso who spoke at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport where he led other dignitaries to witness the inaugural flight from Istanbul, Turkey said "I believe the coming of Turkish Airlines will go a long way in strengthening the relationship that has been existing between us for very long time.

According to him, “it is truly exciting to see that my people will no longer travel to Abuja and Lagos to board a flight to Istanbul which will also connect them to both Europe and Asia. Turkey is a country which seat in between Europe and Asia.”

"Let me at this point assure the government of Turkey and the management of Turkish Airlines that Kano State government will continue to support the airline and all the bilateral relationship between Kano and Turkey as much as we can so that our relationship will continue to grow," he stated.

He noted that becasue of the long standing relationship, "when we were sending 501 students last year to 11 countries, we deliberately decided to make Turkey one of the 11 countries." adding that "right now we have 125 young men and women of Kano State origin studying Postgraduate courses in Turkey.

"When we were sending these students, we had to go through other countries. But now that we have Turkish Airlines we can go direct from Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport to these places. Thank you very much for meeting our transportation challenges," he said.

Also the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah, who was represented by the Commissioner/CEO Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, Capt. Usman Muktar, described the occasion as "an important event in the history of aviation in Nigeria".

He said the Minister had "worked tirelessly to actualise this dream of bringing more international flights to Kano and still working, in line with President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda in the aviation industry to encourage more foreign airlines to operate into Nigeria's airports."

The General Manager, Turkish Airlines, Kano, Mr Ahmet Can Akbuga said "it is a dream fulfilled commencing flight between Istanbul, Turkey and Kano, Nigeria," adding that "we thank the Governor for standing by us and the Minister of Aviation for her tireless effort."

According to him, "the inauguration of flights from Turkey business centre, Istanbul to Kano will build bridge that will bring the two cities closer.”

He said that "Kano has become Turkish Airlines’ 25th flight destination in Africa. Also, Kano now makes flight operation from Istanbul the 242nd flight destination around the world operated into by Turkish Airlines.

"The Istanbul-Kano and N’Djamena-Istanbul flights will be four times a week on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. And our first flight is launched today December 13, 2013 with new aircraft.”