ISTANBUL Sabiha Gokchen International Airport (ISG), operated and owned by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), is wooing national carrier Malaysia Airlines in the hope of receiving flights from Malaysia.

ISG executive director Azmi Murad said it was in constant talks with MAS and AirAsia to consider the airport for their Istanbul route.

“They are studying the matter. They have their own considerations (regarding flying into ISG) and priorities,” he said in Istanbul recently.

ISG is one of two international airports in Istanbul. The other airport is Istanbul Ataturk Airport.

A third airport, Istanbul Grand Airport, is under construction.

ISG currently serves more than 50 international airlines, and about 40 domestic networks. The major carriers at ISG include Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines.

The airport has the capacity to handle 33 million passengers annually.

Expressing optimism that the national carrier would fly into ISG, Azmi said: “I will continue to talk to them and pursue them.”

He said ISG aimed to serve more international airlines.

ISG chief executive officer Ersel Goral reportedly said the Dubai-based Emirates would have flights into ISG in April next year.

Emirates will have daily flights out of Dubai, operating on its Boeing 777 aircraft.

Goral also said there were ongoing talks between ISG and airlines from Europe and the Middle East.

Azmi said there were plans for Malaysian-made products to be available at ISG.

“It is a shame if we don’t promote Malaysian-made products using this asset (ISG), which belongs to Malaysia.”

A Malaysian-based franchise group recently visited ISG to explore partnership opportunities with Turkish players.

A group of Malaysian-based companies, under the umbrella of the Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce, also visited the airport with the aim of promoting beauty and healthcare products there.

Azmi said ISG could feature a dedicated kiosk selling Malaysian products, which would increase interest among tourists to visit Malaysia.

He said he was also considering bringing Malaysian-made frozen roti canai and curry puffs to Turkey. – Bernama, December 4, 2017.