Dubai, UAE: June 15, 2014: Turkish Airlines, Europe's best airline*, has increased its free baggage allowance for passengers from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to take advantage of the annual Istanbul Shopping Fest (ISF) being held in the city from 7th to 29th June, 2014.

Istanbul's annual shopping extravaganza celebrates the cultural, artistic and cosmopolitan highlights of the city, attracting millions of tourists from across the globe with its spectacular blend of shopping promotions, dazzling street shows, live concerts and colourful displays of the latest fashion.

Turkish Airlines, as a premier partner of ISF, has increased its free baggage allowance for all UAE flights to and from Istanbul during the festival and up until 15th July 2014, offering economy class passengers up to 40kg and business class travellers up to 50kg.

A major highlight of the fashion capital is the recently opened 'Mall of İstanbul,' one of Europe's largest destination malls featuring over 350 stores and conveniently located in Başakşehi, only a short journey from Istanbul Atatürk Airport. Visitors can also enjoy sky high shopping in the mall of Europe's highest building, Istanbul Sapphire Building, and the prestigious Istinye Park, a haven for celebrity spotting, café culture and big brands all within one of the city's largest shopping malls.

As part of ISF, shoppers can enjoy discounts on new collections with international brands and beyond the designer malls can explore the bijoux boutiques and treasure troves of the famed Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Spice market for artefacts, antiques and one off pieces from local designers. 

Once visitors have bagged all their bargains they can enjoy the local culinary delights on offer, explore the historical marvels, or simply relax in the luxury setting of some of the world's finest hotels and spas with vistas of the famed landmarks in the city. 

With the largest country flight network in the world, Turkish Airlines offers connections to Istanbul from 254 destinations.  To view the flight schedules and other details, please visit www.TurkishAirlines.com.

*Skytrax rating

About Turkish Airlines:
Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines is a 4-star airline today with a fleet of 251 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 254 destinations worldwide with 211 international and 43 domestic. According to Skytrax survey of 2013, Turkish Airlines was chosen "Europe's Best Airline" for the third and "Best Airline in Southern Europe" for the fifth consecutive time. Having won in 2010 the world's "Best Economy Catering Service" award, Turkish Airlines was this year awarded the world's "Best Business Catering Service" prize in the Skytrax survey. More information about Turkish Airlines can be found on the following website: www.turkishairlines.com.

About Star Alliance:
Turkish Airlines is a member of the airline alliance, Star Alliance which was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award and Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI and United. Air India has been announced as a future member airline with Avianca Brazil to join under the existing Avianca membership. Overall, the Star Alliance network offers more than 18,000 daily flights to 1,269 airports in 193 countries.

For more information, please contact:
Mohammed Al Tawil / Alice Hart
ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
+9714 4507 600
mohammed.altawil@bm.com / alice.hart@bm.com

© Press Release 2014