The cabin gradually filled up when more buses arrived from the terminal. However, the last bus only arrived slightly after our STD of 0800hrs, probably due to some late international connecting passengers. Doors were closed after the last passenger boarded and we commenced our pushback with the safety video played. By this time, we were already about 15min late.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gkuj...rW0dYXoZc9I2ZA
Flight time was announced to be a short 40min. Started taxi to the runway, only to stop and hold.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_7K7...rW0dYXoZc9I2ZA
Captain came on and announced that due to the heavy morning traffic, we were currently number 12(!!!) for takeoff and to expect a wait of about 25min. I seriously wonder how can Ataturk handle the continuously increasing flights that were being planned. Ahead of us, a long queue of planes were queuing for departure.
Forward camera was switched on, with another TK plane taxiing right in front of us.
Gradually nearing the runway after a long wait.
And finally we took off from Rwy35L for the short hop bound for Izmir.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyEsS...rW0dYXoZc9I2ZA
Rolling on the runway.
Climbing out of IST and making a turn back towards Izmir.
Up to our cruising altitude of about 25,000ft.
Seatbelt signs were turned off (finally, as on my previous flight, the seatbelt signs were kept on for the entire long-haul flights even with minimal/no turbulence) and TK started to show its prowess in inflight catering for such a short flight (flight time almost identical to a SIN-KUL flight) on a widebody plane. Carts were pushed out and crew started serving a breakfast snack box from the rear and front of the economy cabins.
We were handed a "Gourmet Entertainment" Do&Co picnic box each. It really was "entertaining" watching the crew serving the entire A340 load on such a short flight and yet did not seemed rushed.
Contents of the meal included a starter consisting of cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and olives.
