Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Vlado Misajlovski is in Istanbul for meetings with the top management of Turkish Airlines and TAV, which operates the Skopje and Ohrid airports in Macedonia. Misajlovski is discussing the possibility of establishing the first direct line between Macedonia and North America - with cities in the United States and Canada.

According to the Transportation Ministry press release, Misajlovski is elaborating the pressing need of creating such a link, that would allow the Macedonian capital become more easily connected with numerous new countries and markets. "Considering that Turkish Airlines is one of the leading air operators in the world, we believe that there is a chance for the first time ever to introduce such an inter-continental line that would cover the needs of many Macedonian citizens living abroad. It would greatly increase the number of passengers going through Alexander the Great airport and would help turn it into a regional center", the Ministry writes.

Minister Misajlovski will assure the Turkish partners that the Government will continue to help investment in airport infrastructure and in expanding the capacity for air travel, which has doubled over the past few years, largely owing to the good cooperation with the Turkish companies.