The success of a programme of charter services to Turkey from Shannon Airport in the Republic of Ireland has lead the provider to announce an enhanced offering for summer 2013 with a doubling of flights and an extension of the operating season. Holiday specialist WingsAbroad will next year operate for the full summer season, starting flights to Bodrum at the end of May, one month earlier than last year and finishing in late September.

The increase in services, which will see the number of seats available rise to 6,000 next year, is on the back of an extremely successful first summer season for WingsAbroad at Shannon. “I am delighted with the success of our Shannon service to Bodrum this summer and due to the large support we received from the travel trade and our customers in the region,” said Tayfun Gokpinar, Managing Director, WingsAbroad. “We have a large customer base in the Shannon and Munster region and thanks to all the support received from our customers and Shannon Airport we are now able to invest further in the Shannon market.”

Bodrum is a peninsular and versatile city that addresses all holiday tastes, from those seeking an ancient, historic urban centre with old castle, mausoleum and amphitheatre to others looking for a more modern, trendy destination complete with some of Turkey’s best restaurants and night life. Situated in the Southwestern Aegean region of Turkey, it was the site in ancient times of the Mausoleum of Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

WingsAbroad’s weekly charter programme will offer holiday packages as well as a seat only option for customers wishing to visit their own holiday properties in this region of Turkey. “We have worked very closely with WingsAbroad this season to ensure the success of the service and we are delighted with this increase in capacity to a very popular destination next summer with Wings Abroad,” said Declan Power, Senior Manager, Aviation Business Development at Shannon Airport. “This extra sun destination capacity means that customers can avoid the inconvenience and arduous trek associated with travelling from other airports.”

This agreement follows just a matter of weeks after Shannon Airport secured the services of US carrier United Airlines. The US major is to introduce a five times weekly seasonal service between Shannon and Chicago between June 6, 2013 and August 28, 2013 complementing its existing year-round daily link to Newark Liberty International.

The Chicago route was a regular service at Shannon since 1996 and was last operated in 2009 when Aer Lingus ceased its service. However, there has been traditional strong demand for services to the ‘Windy City’ with over 110,000 passengers travelling in 2007 when the route was then served by both American Airlines and Aer Lingus with 14 flights a week.