Turkish airline Atlasjet to replace route flown by easyJet from Luton since 2008
The service was promoted this week at Luton Airport
ATLASJET is to launch the first direct flights between Luton and Turkey’s largest airport in just six weeks’ time.
The airline will fly four times a week from the Bedfordshire airport to Istanbul Atatürk beginning on 2 May.
Incoming flights will arrive at Luton at 11.20am, having left Istanbul at 9.30 local time that morning. The return flight to Atatürk Airport will depart at 12.20pm, with a scheduled arrival time in Turkey of 6.05pm.
In a promotional tour held for business leaders and members of the press this week, airport officials said Atlasjet services would call at Gate 20, a five minute walk from the departure lounge.
They were keen to stress Luton’s close transport links to the Turkish-speaking communities of North London, with a regular rail service into St Pancras that travels as quickly as 21 minutes.
A car journey into London from the airport takes around three quarters of an hour, they said.
Atlasjet meanwhile emphasised its service, which features complimentary food and beverages throughout the flight.
A statement said: “Atlastjet is not a low cost airline and with its service standards similar to major European airlines, Atlasjet provides its passengers a lot of privileges within the framework of the Business Class and EkonomiPlus concept.”
The Istanbul Atatürk service replaces easyJet’s long-standing route from Luton to Sabiha Gökçen Airport, which ends on 29 March after almost six years in operation.
