Turkish Airlines' push into Africa is worrying its European rivals
Skift Take
There's something absolutely hilarious about a Belgian airline struggling with business in the Congo that distracts from the serious efforts Turkish Airlines has made to develop networks throughout Africa.
Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s Brussels Airlines unit said ticket prices and revenue on the African routes in which it specializes face a squeeze as rivals including Turkish Airlines pour capacity into the continent.
The carrier had forecast 5 percent sales growth in Africa this year and now faces a decline, while yields, a measure of revenue-per-seat equating to fares, are also under pressure, Chief Executive Officer Bernard Gustin said in an interview.
“Africa is still very strong, but not as strong as we had expected,” Gustin said. “Everyone is talking about the new competitors, especially Turkish. We suffer a lot from them.”
Brussels, in which Lufthansa has a 45 percent stake, serves 19 African cities after doubling the number in the decade to 2012. The carrier also has an arm in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a market predecessor Sabena first tapped 90 years ago.
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