Turkish Airlines (TK) is seriously evaluating the reintroduction of a premium economy cabin on long-haul routes, potentially marking the return of its former Comfort Class product after a 12-year hiatus. The decision comes as global demand grows for a middle-ground upgrade between standard economy and business class.

Turkish Airlines was an early adopter of the premium economy concept, launching its Comfort Class around 15 years ago on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The cabin featured wider recliner seats arranged in a 2-3-2 layout, offering more comfort than standard economy and at a lower price than business class. This move provided passengers with a cost-effective upgrade for long-haul travel.

However, in 2013, the airline discontinued Comfort Class, citing insufficient demand. Industry experts speculated that the real issue was internal competition—the cabin’s strong value proposition diverted passengers from higher-yielding business class seats, especially when business class fares were much higher.

Ahmet Bolat, Chairman of Turkish Airlines, explained in a 2024 interview with Skift that the discontinuation was also due to more accessible business class pricing, which lessened the demand for a separate premium economy product.

Since then, premium economy has become one of the fastest-growing cabin classes across the airline industry, with many carriers now using it as an effective way to upsell economy passengers without diluting business class demand.

Travelers who are restricted by corporate policies or personal budgets but still desire more space, improved dining, and a more refined onboard experience typically opt for premium economy, making it a highly profitable segment.

To gauge passenger interest, Turkish Airlines conducted a detailed survey in late 2025 among Miles&Smiles members, focusing on premium economy preferences. The survey explored aspects such as seat comfort, dining expectations, and willingness to pay more for premium seating on short, medium, and long-haul flights.

The results suggest that Turkish Airlines is actively exploring how a reimagined premium economy product could fit into its broader service offering.

While premium economy is already available on some Airbus A350-900 aircraft previously operated by Aeroflot, which Turkish Airlines now operates, fleet consistency remains a challenge.

During the Comfort Class era, only a small number of Boeing 777-300ERs featured premium economy, causing operational disruptions during aircraft swaps. A future rollout would likely require broader fleet integration to ensure a smoother experience and avoid passenger downgrades.

As Turkish Airlines continues to expand its ultra-long-haul network, including the possibility of nonstop flights to Australia, the need for a premium economy cabin becomes more pronounced. Long-duration flights naturally drive demand for a comfort-focused mid-tier product that can improve passenger satisfaction and revenue performance on long-haul routes.

Turkish Airlines appears to be revisiting premium economy as part of its evolving strategy for long-haul travel. With market trends, passenger feedback, and network expansion all pointing toward a strong business case for its return, the airline is well-positioned to bring back this popular product in the near future.

Riyadh Air and Saudia have announced the implementation of the first phase of their Strategic Cooperation Agreement, marking a major step in strengthening connectivity under Saudi Arabia’s National Aviation Strategy.

The partnership builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2023 and enables the two airlines to expand travel options for domestic and international passengers.

As part of the first phase, Riyadh Air has established a connection with Saudia’s Passenger Service System (PSS), allowing the carriers to implement their codeshare across their respective technology platforms.

Under the RX-SV codeshare, Riyadh Air will place its “RX” designator on selected Saudia-operated flights from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport to six domestic destinations: Abha, Al Qassim, Dammam, Jeddah, Medina and Tabuk.

The agreement will give Riyadh Air passengers access to additional destinations worldwide through convenient connections in Riyadh. For example, travelers from Dammam can connect via Riyadh to Madrid on a single ticket, while passengers flying from Kuala Lumpur can connect through Riyadh to Medina.

By using Saudia’s frequent services between Riyadh and the six codeshare destinations, Riyadh Air will offer passengers more convenient connections aligned with the arrival and departure schedules of its flights at Riyadh.

Both airlines operate within the King Khalid International Airport Terminal 1-4 complex, enabling passengers to benefit from streamlined connections, single-ticket journeys and through-checked baggage to their final destinations.

The first phase represents a significant step toward deeper cooperation between Saudi Arabia’s two national carriers and supports the Kingdom’s broader ambitions to expand its global aviation network.

Source: aaco.org

SalamAir has announced the establishment of Salalah’s first-ever airline base, marking a major step in the airline’s expansion and strengthening direct international connectivity from Oman’s Dhofar Governorate.

The new Salalah-based operation will initially serve three international destinations: Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Chattogram in Bangladesh and Calicut in India. Bookings opened on August 26, with flights scheduled to begin from the end of October as part of SalamAir’s Winter 2026 schedule.

The base follows SalamAir’s expanded operations during the 2026 Khareef season, when the airline increased capacity on the Muscat-Salalah route to as many as 15 daily flights during peak periods.

The airline also introduced special domestic fares for Omani nationals, with one-way tickets starting from OMR 9.99, supporting affordable travel between Muscat and Salalah.

The new base is expected to extend SalamAir’s role beyond the Khareef season by supporting year-round travel demand among residents and expatriate communities in Dhofar while offering more direct access to key regional and international destinations.

Operations from Salalah will be supported by SalamAir’s Airbus A320neo and A321neo fleet. The airline currently operates 18 aircraft, providing additional flexibility to support growing demand across its network.

During the winter season, SalamAir will also operate charter flights linking Salalah with Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan, supporting inbound tourism from Central Asia.

The Salalah base forms part of SalamAir’s wider strategy to expand its network from key airports across Oman, develop underserved markets and stimulate new travel demand while supporting the growth of the Sultanate’s aviation and tourism sectors.

Source: ZAWYA