OREANDA-NEWS. Turkish Airlines, Turkey's Four-Star rated flag carrier, has officially announced that it will launch Miami-Istanbul service on Sunday, October 25, with direct flights connecting the Gateway of the Americas ith the historic gateway linking Europe and Asia.

The new service will operate daily using the award-winning carrier's Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, and Istanbul will mark MIA's 18th European destination when service begins.

"The leadership team at MIA is to be congratulated for landing yet another major international carrier and for continuing to propel our local economy forward," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. "We welcome Turkish Airlines and its devoted customers to our community with open arms."

One of the largest and fastest-growing carriers in the world, Turkish Airlines currently serves more than 260 destinations around the globe from its centrally located Istanbul hub, which offers easy access to Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. A member of the Star Alliance, Turkish Airlines' quick growth has been accompanied by a steady stream of industrywide recognitions for outstanding customer service. Along with being rated a World Top 10 Airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards each of the past four years, Turkish has also won consecutive "Best Airline in Europe" honors for the same four-year time period. The carrier has also earned accolades for its meal service product in Business Class and Economy Class, alike.

"In a year full of exciting developments at MIA, the introduction of new Miami-Istanbul service on Turkish Airlines is at the top of the list," said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. Gonzalez. "It doesn't get better than directly connecting two incredible gateway cities and three continents aboard a world-class carrier. MIA is proud to partner with Turkish Airlines and offer our valued customers access to Istanbul through our ever-expanding network of domestic and international destinations."

Istanbul - boasting a population exceeding 14 million, more than 2,000 years of history, and a cross section of cultures and religions - draws millions of visitors each year to its historic center, much of which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The sixth-largest city in the world straddles the European and Asian continents, separated by the Bosporus strait. Istanbul's historic center and Ataturk Airport are located on the larger European side of the city.

Miami-Istanbul flights will operate daily, with inbound flights scheduled to arrive in Miami at 8:30 p.m. and scheduled departures to Istanbul at 10:30 p.m. Turkish Airlines' Boeing 777-300ER aircraft offers a three-class configuration with 28 Business Class seats, 63 Premium Economy seats, and 246 seats in Economy Class for a maximum capacity of 337 passengers.