Turkish Airlines CE predicts growth despite terror attacks

A recent terror attack in Turkey isn't denting growth plans at the country's flag carrier as it recorded only a small drop off in bookings in the wake of this month's bombing in Istanbul, the CE of Turkish Airlines said Sunday. A suicide bomber killed 10 tourists in the heart of Istanbul earlier this month, raising concern that the country's important tourism sector could be badly hit. Egypt has suffered a sharp drop in tourism in the wake of the Oct 31 downing of a Russian jetliner that departed from the beach resort of Sharm El Sheikh, killing all 224 people on-board. Turkish Airlines bookings were impacted, but only for a few days, CE Temel Kotil said. The airline is sticking with its plan for 21% traffic growth this year, he said. Turkish Airlines plans to continue its rapid pace of fleet expansion, adding 43 aircraft this year to grow its inventory of planes to 342 aircraft. <br/>