The Turkish Airlines yesterday launched direct flights to Dar es Salaam to boost trade and investments between the two countries.The airline-managing director, Mr Mustafa Ozkahraman, said on the arrival of a plane at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam from Istanbul yesterday that the flights would be made four times a week.It will link European investors and Turkish tourists and businesspeople to Tanzania, he said.

He said unreliable air services were impeding Turks to visit Tanzania.The airline also plans to increase the number of flights to other East African countries.According to him, the airline carried 25 million passengers last year.The airline has a fleet of 140 aircraft, flying to more than 150 destinations worldwide.The planes include Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 737-800, Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-400, Airbus A340-300, Airbus A330-200, Airbus A321-200, Airbus A320-200 and Airbus A319-100.