ADB-IST: Leg 1 to BLQ

Our quick visit to İzmir is now in the rearview mirror. Aboard TK2311, we are winging our way to İstanbul to connect to our flight to Bologna.

We had an early start to our day.

Last night, as we sat watching TV, we were debating which IZBAN train to take to the airport for our scheduled 8:55a departure. 6:00a? 6:15a? 6:30a? Turns out that we were ready so far ahead of schedule this morning that we were actually on the 5:47a train. Thirty minutes later, we were detraining at the airport station. The rest of the formalities were easy peasy.

Although boarding was delayed by 20 minutes, the aircraft pushed back from the gate 4 minutes ahead of schedule at 8:51a. Quick taxi to and roll down the runway. In the air shortly after 9:00a.

Breakfast service — cheese and tomato sandwich — is completed. It is now 9:25a, and we are already on descent into IST. Our arrival is showing as 9:46a … about 35 minutes ahead of schedule. We’ll see how long it takes to taxi to the gate at busy IST.Read more