Aer Lingus - Stop Flying To Turkey?

Gumbo

Guys,

My family fly into turkey 3 times a year.
Over the last few years the options available was excellent since EI start flying to Izmir. Although now they have heard that they are about to pull out?

Has anyone else heard these whispers/rumours?

Thanks.

Aerohead

I just put in flying to Izmir on their website for September and there are flights on Tuesday and Saturday, however with the increase in terrorist attacks there I doubt if they would be filling their flights.

Gumbo

Aerohead wrote: »

I just put in flying to Izmir on their website for September and there are flights on Tuesday and Saturday, however with the increase in terrorist attacks there I doubt if they would be filling their flights.

That's the thing. Flights are full!

goingnowhere

A large block of seats are sold to travel agents on the Izmir route.

If the travel agents decide to pull out of Izmir the route will die, but they most likely have a 2016 season contract so the plane keeps flying until DofFA says its not safe

Jamie2k9

Their capacity to Turkey is down this year and this is before you include Sunway block bookings (No in 2015 season) on the route so there has been a sharp dip in seats available to people who book on their website hence prices are high.

It may return in 2017 but think capacity could be cut to just 1 weekly however it really depends on demand I guess and that won't be decided until the season is finished.

Marcusm

Tourism to Turkey is down 50% this year. Perhaps there hasn't been much of a cut back but once number start to drop, I imagine that they will reassess. It would be a long thin route if the loads weren't high.

JCX BXC

Antalya didn't start this year and Dalaman is ending this august, Izmir from SNN and ORK is down and how's Bodrum doing?

Izmir from DUB is one of the few options left.

Jamie2k9

Carnacalla wrote: »

Antalya didn't start this year and Dalaman is ending this august, Izmir from SNN and ORK is down and how's Bodrum doing?

Izmir from DUB is one of the few options left.

There is no Bodrum service from DUB/ORK at all.

JCX BXC

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

There is no Bodrum service from DUB/ORK at all.

Really! I recall one last year, didn't realise it was cut.

Jamie2k9

Carnacalla wrote: »

Really! I recall one last year, didn't realise it was cut.

Yes there was likely one but nothing this year, Sunway were the main operator to Turkey and they pulled all services and only operate a limited number of packages on the EI Izmir service this year.

Spanish Eyes

What is the attraction of Turkey?

Was there twice, different places to give it a chance.... Never again.

Jamie2k9

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

What is the attraction of Turkey?

Was there twice, different places to give it a chance.... Never again.

Cheap, there was major surge in capacity a few years ago.

Never been but never really wanted to go either.

Strumms

Cheap indeed. Great shopping & bargains to be had & warm weather too. Izmir I found to be a very young city, very relaxed, a lot of students. Istanbul was more manic but I was there just for one day, Republic day of all days so just a sea of people everywhere. What I enjoy about places like that is how different it is from home, the buildings, the atmosphere, hearing the call to prayers and how vibrant it seemed. I'd like to go back and explore more at some point. I did have a bad experience with a taxi driver who was closer to mugging me then ripping me off but I try not let stuff like that color my experience of places as everyone else was beyond nice.

Spanish Eyes

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Cheap, there was major surge in capacity a few years ago.

Never been but never really wanted to go either.

Maybe some Irish bought apartments there.

Anyway, I can understand Istanbul as a hub for Turkish Airlines.

But Izmir? I am sure Izmir is a wonderful city, but who sees it on the coach to Kusadasi? (shudder). Sorry I sound like a total knob/snob. But I did that for Ephesus which was wonderful. But no way ever again.

Sorry to all who love Turkey. It is a personal thing really, but defo not for me

Strumms

Something I also left out is the history of those cities. That will attract a lot of people too. Also Izmir is a big stop off for cruise ships as is Istanbul more so. Can't say I was long enough there to love it but I can see the attraction for people from this part of the world and elsewhere. I suppose all that taken into account plus a reasonable Irish ex-pat population and there you have it... that's why airlines have had routes.. Also Am I imagining it or did Onur Air operate from DUB to Izmir at some point ?

Jamie2k9

Also Am I imagining it or did Onur Air operate from DUB to Izmir at some point ?

At the height on traffic to Turkey they sent around 4 A321's into DUB on Saturdays operating at least 2 Izmir services.

Strumms

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

At the height on traffic to Turkey they sent around 4 A321's into DUB on Saturdays operating at least 2 Izmir services.

yeah I remember them having a few jets on the ground regularly at some point.

Spanish Eyes

Am I the only insomniac in the Parish lol

Maybe you lot work shifts or something. I can't sleep thinking of some awful days in Turkey now that you have raised the subject!

But that is not everyone's experience. I understand that. But still....

JCX BXC

What where these awful days? Personally I really enjoyed my trip last week and would return in a heartbeat. I felt no more uncomfortable at any stage than I would passing a bad area of a town/city in Ireland.

bernsy

There have been direct (charter) Dublin to Izmir flights since 1991, Aer Lingus founded Pegasus and the Irish invasion of Turkey began. Air Anatolia, Noble Air, TUR, Onur Air to name just a few. In the 1990's and 2000's thousands of Irish bought properties in and around Kusadasi
This year particularly it is these people who are keeping the route going.
Hopefully tourism in Turkey will pick up next year because it is a magnificent place - in my opinion.

Spanish Eyes

Carnacalla wrote: »

What where these awful days? Personally I really enjoyed my trip last week and would return in a heartbeat. I felt no more uncomfortable at any stage than I would passing a bad area of a town/city in Ireland.

Have to say it is a great place to see Roman ruins and all that. Fabulous in fact.

But the Turkish way of life does not appeal one bit.

OK I am female, and the hassle is unreal. I have never seen a female work in a restaurant or a bar ever. They seem to be hidden away, despite the so called "secularism" that Turkey espouses. That secularism has depleted a lot with Erdogan.

Anyway, it is just a personal thing. Taken individually Turkish people are grand, though I only ever spoke to Turkish men who were working in the restaurants, no women allowed there!

Get the picture?

Same in all Muslim countries. Glad I visited Egypt before now. Would not go back there either.

But it's all an experience, we take from it what we enjoy, and I didn't enjoy much of it TBH.

And just to be snobbish about it, there is a cohort that goes to Turkey and they are just not my type either. On the plane a few times, there was much ruaille buaille, and the crew just did not know what to do. I cringed have to say. One couple left their young girl wander around the cabin while they got absolutely pi$$ed on DF vodka. I was so sorry for the kid.

Now I know that I may be tarring the few of course.

But never, ever again. Sorry about that.

Generalising much? Maybe, but that's what I got from it.

Each to their own, the world is a huge place and much to be seen, so I have lots of options!

JCX BXC

I visited a small village called Sarigerme, where women were commonly seen in shops and restaurants. At my hotel, the women:men ratio is actually 60:40.

Spanish Eyes

Carnacalla wrote: »

I visited a small village called Sarigerme, where women were commonly seen in shops and restaurants. At my hotel, the women:men ratio is actually 60:40.

I didn't say that women were not seen in restaurants etc., I said they were never seen working in such places. The men rule the roost. It is so obvious.

Sorry, but men descend to the Aegean Coast for the season like locusts (from the Kurdish East more than likely), and the women are left behind to fend for themselves.

I do realise that working the Tourist areas is vital for many, but there are too many sleazy men around looking for a sugar mummy!

They'd get the evil eye from me anyway so they are safe and so am I!

Different culture for sure, no worries, take it as you find it. But I will never return. The whole Erdogan thing gets me aswell, he doesn't like women much either, and so the cycle continues.

Having said all that, it is a beautiful country. Pity about other things associated with it, but there ya go. Each to their own.

The world is a big place and so accessible now. Time to move on and enjoy what I like I think.

JCX BXC

By seen I meant working in.

Spanish Eyes

Carnacalla wrote: »

By seen I meant working in.

I'm sure that's true in your experience.

But in mine it was not. Ever.

Depends on where you go I suppose.

Glad you had a nice trip, but I won't be back.