Turkish Airlines is scheduled to add services to its air route from Shanghai to Istanbul on December 21 to operate daily flights, an increase over the previous five-weekly schedule to the Chinese metropolis.

Meanwhile, it will also provide daily service from Beijing to Istanbul on December 22 to meet the growing demand, said Gayret Yuksel, director of the Turkish Airlines Shanghai Office.

Yuksel said Turkish Airlines has received final approval from the Chinese authorities to inaugurate a new non-stop service from Istanbul to Guangzhou in Guangdong province starting January 31 2011.

"Preparations are under way for the first flight to Guangzhou, the airlines' third destination in mainland China," he said.

The new service will provide flights on Monday, Wednesday and Friday respectively, and booking service is available to agents and travelers throughout the Pearl River Delta region.

The Turkish Airlines management felt excited about its business growth in China, saying that this is the result of the strenuous effort it has made in the Chinese market.

"We have invested heavily in making our services to the Chinese market, the very best we can," said Yuksel.