Turkish Airlines has launched a new daily service that runs between Gatwick and Istanbul.

The award winning carrier currently operates the Airbus 321-200, capable of flying at least 195 passengers in a two-class cabin layout. Turkey’s largest city is popular with tourists and historians that always jump at the chance to visit historic buildings and museums while enjoying shopping at the Grand Bazaar.

The Chief Commercial Officer at Gatwick Airport, Guy Stephenson, said that Turkish Airlines is excited to have chosen his hub for expanding its London capacity. Similarly, passengers in the UK will also be rubbing their hands together at the prospect of being able to enjoy Istanbul as well as others around the Middle East and Asia that Turkey’s flagship carrier has links to.

Stephenson continued by explaining that Gatwick is competing with other London airports and must give passengers the best best possible destinations to fly to, which is why the chance to travel to and from over 200 of them – more than any other UK hub – is already on offer. Turkish Airlines provides scheduled services to just under 140 global destinations and 42 domestic airports around its native Turkey.

Gatwick is competing with Heathrow in its attempt to become the number one airport of choice in London’s and has in recent years attracted the likes of AirAsia X, Hong Kong Airlines, Air China and Vietnam Airlines, among others.