Turkish Airlines builds Istanbul into a transit hub to the African continent

In an effort to boost market share, Turkish Airlines is building its transfer business, in which passengers from China can change planes in Istanbul, said a company executive.

The Istanbul-based company has been tailoring travel routes to the African continent to win Chinese tourists, said Ma Lin, sales manager of Turkish Airlines China.

The shift in sales strategy came after Turkish tourism plunged as the country was affected by terrorist attacks and political turbulence in the first half of the year, according to Ma.