Cape Town became the first city in Africa to welcome the luxurious B787-9 Dreamliner when Turkish Airlines’ flight from Istanbul landed in the Mother City on Friday (April 1).
The city has been selected as the priority destination for the aircraft on the continent.
City of Cape Town's Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, James Vos, welcomed the new flight. “This is great news for Cape Town! The additional capacity provided by the Dreamliner aircraft between Istanbul and Cape Town will offer superb potential for growth in business and leisure travel between these destinations for international visitors and locals alike.”
He said, in his capacity, he was keenly aware of the benefits to the local economy of being able to bring more passengers and flights to Cape Town. “It is because of these significant spin-offs that I motivated for more funding towards our Air Access initiative. The more we extend our reach, the more Cape Town and South Africa can reap the economic benefits of tourism.”
Cape Town Tourism CEO, Enver Duminy, agreed, highlighting that Istanbul was a pivotal transport hub for Europe and other continents. “Reigniting global tourism takes practical measures such as this. We look forward to the opportunities this will create so that more international visitors can come and find their freedom in Cape Town.
“Cape Town's tourism industry is resilient, the city is anticipating that international visitors will be excited to come and enjoy our unrivalled attractions and experiences after the prolonged disruption to global travel of the past two years,” he added.
The B787-9 Dreamliner will operate four flights per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, between Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and Istanbul Airport.
Cape Town GM for Turkish Airlines, Kenan Ince, said the Dreamliner was regarded as one of the most advanced aircraft for its fuel efficiency and range flexibility. It has a seating capacity of 300 passengers – 270 in economy class and 30 in business class.
The spacious wide-body cabin features larger overhead luggage bins and extra-large windows as well as dimmable LED window shades which give greater control over light entering the cabin.
A new filtration system, better air pressure and greater humidity helped passengers feel less dryness and reduced fatigue, explained Ince. The engines, interior, systems, and equipment all feature vibration isolation to create a quieter on-board experience.
