British Airways franchise partner BMED is to launch flights between London and the Turkish capital Ankara.
The airline will operate the service six times a week from March 26, rising to daily in July.
It will bring BMED’s Middle East, Central Asia and Africa destinations to 16.
In a separate move, the carrier said it will take delivery of seven A321 aircraft over the next four years, the first of which arrived last week and the second in July.
Chief executive David Richardson said: “The announcement of this new route, together with our on-going development, signals and exciting new phase of steady business expansion.
“[The new aircraft] will support our plans for the progressive extension of the route network into new markets.”
He added the Ankara route will become increasingly important as Turkey moves towards membership of the EU.
