Turkish Airlines launches İstanbul-Aqaba direct flights

Turkish Airlines has launched direct flights from İstanbul to Jordan's port city of Aqaba, the carrier's second destination in the country, according to the company Monday.

In a statement, the company said three weekly flights to Aqaba would cost starting from $404, including taxes and fees.

"Additionally, there is a special offer for Miles & Smiles members to be used for their trips departing from Turkey -- provided that completed by June 11 -- and the trips departing from Aqaba -- provided that completed by June 12 -- with a 25 percent reduction in the miles needed to redeem either award tickets or upgrades," the airline said.

Turkish Airlines already offers flights to capital Amman.

Turkey's flag carrier currently has 328 aircraft and flies to 303 destinations -- 254 international and 49 domestic.

It was chosen as the Best Airline in Europe by Skytrax for six years in a row between 2011 and 2016, and the Best Airline in Southern Europe for the ninth consecutive time in 2017.

The airline increased its total number of passengers by 9.3 percent, year-on-year, to reach 68.6 million in 2017, according to a statement issued by the company on Jan. 8.