Turkish low-cost airline AnadoluJet returned to Odessa on December 16 after a six-month break with a new route to Istanbul. The airline will fly to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, which is located in the eastern part of the city.
Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is one of three international airports serving Istanbul. Located 32 km (20 mi) southeast of the city center, Sabiha Gökçen Airport is in the Asian part of the bi-continental Istanbul. It serves as the hub for AnadoluJet and Pegasus Airlines as well as a secondary base for Turkish Airlines.
AnadoluJet is not, in fact, a separate airline. This is the budget division of Turkish Airlines. Its flights are operated by planes of the parent company.
AnadoluJet uses Boeing 737-800 aircraft with a maximum seat capacity of 189 and provides a simplified service compared to the parent company. For example, there is no business class in the cabin of a low-cost airline.
However, economy class passengers on Odessa-Istanbul flights can carry 8 kg of hand luggage in the cabin and 20 kg of items in the luggage free of charge. The ticket price also includes a sandwich and drinks.
Flights Odessa-Istanbul are included in the schedule with a frequency of three times a week: on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
AnadoluJet has launched flights in addition to the three daily flights of its parent company Turkish Airlines.
The low-cost airline already tried to gain a foothold in Odessa in May 2021 with Odessa-Dalaman flights, but closed them a few weeks later due to low occupancy.
A more straightforward service and base at a secondary airport in Istanbul have allowed AnadoluJet to lower fares than its parent company. For example, if a ticket Odessa-Istanbul-Odessa for January 2022 for AnadoluJet flights costs $95 round-trip, then Turkish Airlines has $257 round-trip.
