Turkish Airlines launches Istanbul-Phuket flights

Turkish Airlines has launched direct flights from Istanbul to the Thai island of Phuket, the carrier's 300th destination, the airline said Tuesday.

In a statement, the company said four weekly flights to the island, off Thailand's western coast, would cost from $569.

"As an award-winning airline that invites people to explore the beauties of our world, it was a natural choice for us to decide on Phuket as our next destination," Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Eksi said in a statement.

Turkish Cargo also launched scheduled freighter flights to Phuket.

Turkish Airlines has 333 aircraft and flies to 251 international and 49 domestic destinations. It was named Europe's Best Airline for the sixth time in last year's World Airline Survey by Skytrax.