Tag Archives: Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines added another feather to its global offerings through its new agreement with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The airlines now provides enhanced security screening programme for the transit passengers departing from the United States, with smarter overall security and a better air travel experience. Members of a Department of Homeland Security trusted traveler program may now have the privilege of TSA-expedited screening at airport security checkpoints in the United States. They may keep light jackets, shoes and belts on, although laptops and 3-1-1-compliant liquids remain in carryon bags. Children aged 12 years or less, accompanying a parent or guardian with TSA, also receive expedited screening. In April 2017, 97% of TSA Pre passengers waited for less than 5 minutes. TSA screening is available to the members of Global Entry and the TSA Precheck Application Program. TSA screening is also available to U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents enrolled in NEXUS or SENTRI and to Canadian citizens enrolled in NEXUS. To experience the privileges of TSA, members enrolled in a trusted traveler program must add their Known Traveler Number when making reservations with Turkish Airlines, at one of their kiosks or check-in counters. When a member then checks in, a TSA indicator will appear on their boarding pass, which saves them from lengthy security checks.

Turkish Airlines launched new flights from various cities in the Middle East to key tourist destinations in Turkey. The new direct flights will be launched from the cities of Saudi Arabia including Jeddah now with connecting flights to Ankara and Trabzon; Riyadh with flights to Antalya and Trabzon; and from Medina to Ankara. Additional connecting flights include the cities of Dammam, Yanbu, and Al Qassim all travelling to Trabzon. Kuwait City is another city benefitting from the new flights and now connecting travellers from the country to Trabzon, Izmir, Antalya and Bodrum. Additionally passengers from the cities of Erbil, Baghdad and Sulaymaniyah in Iraq and Amman, Jordan will also be able to travel directly to their preferred destination in Turkey. Residents from Erbil will be connected to Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, and Antalya, whereas travellers from Baghdad, Sulaymaniyah and Amman will be provided flights with a direct connection to Antalya. Bilal Ekşi, Deputy Chairman and CEO, Turkish Airlines, said, “We are always looking to provide our passengers with the most convenient and time-efficient way of travel. Tourists worldwide have been continuously increasing due to the fantastic attractions and features provided by all our Turkish cities. As we move forward, our goal will be to create these direct flights from all the markets which we operate in globally so that travellers can now fly directly to their destination of choice.”

Turkish Airlines has reported a significant growth in the number of inbound and outbound tourists for Turkey and the GCC, at ATM being held at Dubai International Convention Centre until April 27, 2017. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Turkey, the number of visitors from GCC nationals who travelled to Turkey in 2016 increased by 10.5 per cent in comparison with the previous year reaching 822,849 people, with the biggest increase belonging to travellers from Saudi Arabia which saw a growth of 18 percent to reach 530,410 people. The second largest growth in tourist numbers was from the UAE to Turkey reporting an increase of 14 per cent. M. İlker Aycı, Turkish Airlines’ Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, said: “2016 has been a successful year for Turkish Airlines in terms of our global fleet and network expansion as we continue to build momentum for our excellent in-flight and customer service. Our network expansion has also been a pivotal step in supporting the increasing customer demand in all our markets, including the UAE and the wider GCC. Through new and innovative features, as well as having a growing fleet, our aim is to provide customers with the best possible options, both in terms of new destinations and innovative products and services.” The airline also reported that the top three outbound destinations from Turkey to travel in the GCC region are Jeddah, Dubai and Kuwait reflecting that the GCC market continues to be a popular attraction for many.

Turkish Airlines has extended Business Class free onboard Internet services to economy passengers in exchange for their tablets or laptops while boarding their flights to the United States. For passengers that prefer not to stow their electronic devices in checked-in baggage during the flight, Turkish Airlines offers a special service that gives travellers to the United States and United Kingdom a safe and secure method of carrying their electronics in a special area in the cargo hold of the airplane. The devices may be used at the gate until boarding. By continuously aiming to increase passenger satisfaction, Turkish Airlines additionally offers high quality headphones to economy class passengers on long-haul flights. This new service will be effective immediately in all U.S. flights, and for all other long-haul flights of Turkish Airlines as from May 2017. The passengers will feel more comfortable with this high quality headset, specially designed for long flight hours. Turkish Airlines continuously improves its in-flight entertainment system – amongst other services – in order to make its passengers feel special throughout the entire flight. The comfortable headphones with much higher sound quality will allow the passengers to uninterruptedly enjoy the airline’s award-winning inflight entertainment system, titled “Planet”, which delivers thousands of hours of music and film experience.

Turkish Airlines has added Kharkiv, as its 297th destination in 120 countries with the recently launched inaugural flight. By launching flights to Kharkiv, the global carrier demonstrates its permanent effort once again to further improve its expansion strategy without any cease. As of March 30, Kharkiv flights will be operated 4 times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. This figure will increase to 7 times per week as of May 30th 2017. Round trip fares are available from Istanbul to Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine, starting from $109 (including taxes and fees). Additionally, for the first 6 months of operation to the new destination, there is a special offer for Miles&Smiles members, with a 25% reduction in the miles needed to redeem either award tickets or upgrades.

Turkish Airlines has added two new destinations in Russia — Voronezh and Samara. The national carrier is going to increase capacity in Russia by operating 3 flights per week between Istanbul–Samara and Istanbul-Voronezh instead of Astrakhan and Novosibirsk which are currently operated as two flights per week.  Istanbul-Voronezh v.v. flights will be launched on 4th April 2017 and Istanbul-Samara v.v. flights will also be launched on 11th April 2017. Special round-trip fares are available for Istanbul-Samara starting from $159 and for Istanbul-Voronej starting from $189 (including taxes).

Air Namibia (SW) and Turkish Airlines (TK) have signed a code-share agreement. Effective from March 1, the agreement will cover routes between Turkey and Namibia, and set to expand further travel opportunities for the passengers of the two airlines. The signing ceremony took place at Turkish Airlines’ Headquarters in İstanbul. Namibia Deputy Minister of Works & Transport Sankwasa James Sankwasa and Turkish Airlines Deputy Chairman and CEO, Bilal Ekşi signed the deal in the presence of senior officials from both sides. This new code-share agreement is bound to broaden the commercial partnership between two companies and their respective countries. At the same time, passengers of both airlines will be given more travel options between Namibia and Turkey. Under the terms of the agreement, Air Namibia and Turkish Airlines are planning to place codes on unilateral flights of SW on Windhoek – Johannesburg v.v. / Windhoek – Frankfurt v.v., and unilateral flights of TK on İstanbul – Johannesburg v.v. / İstanbul – Frankfurt v.v. Also it has been considered that, when SW introduces the Windhoek – İstanbul v.v. flights in future, this code-share agreement will be expanded by placing the code to include beyond İstanbul flights. Sankwasa expressed his satisfaction with this commercial partnership with a well-established and rapidly growing carrier like Turkish Airlines, which enjoys a broad route network. He also expressed that they are happy to conduct this code-share agreement with Turkish Airlines and also added that the deal will be a crucial experience for them. Sankwasa further stated that he is confident about this cooperation which will be fruitful for both sides and will be enlarged very soon. Sankwasa further stated “Air Namibia is a small airline and …

Turkish Airlines has added an Antalya-Algeria and vice-versa route to its expanding flight network during summer season. The airline will operate these flights three times a week between Antalya and Algeria. With these direct flights, it is now much easier to reach the country’s tourism center, Antalya from Algeria. Flights will be operated on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday starting from July 8, 2017, from Algeria to Antalya.

Turkish Airlines and Pakistan International Airlines have expanded their code-share cooperation, w.e.f from February 1, 2017. Inclusion of the new routes will enable both airlines a step into a new market while offering passengers various possibilities to travel. Turkish Airlines currently operates 7 frequencies each on the Istanbul – Karachi/Islamabad/Lahore vv. routes. The expanded code-share cooperation provides passengers with more feasible connections as well as seamless travel opportunities between and beyond destinations of Turkey and Pakistan. Pakistan International Airlines’ Jeddah and Madinah flights and as well as 8 domestic routes from Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore are appended to the renewed SPA in force since January 1st, 2017, which abled Turkish Airlines to reach Pakistan domestic destinations. The new SPA also involves Turkish Airlines’ all American destinations besides most of the European points. With the expansion of the existing code-share agreement, Pakistan International Airlines will be able to sell Turkish Airlines’ beyond Istanbul points of Atlanta, Johannesburg, Atina, Amsterdam, Tashkent, Moskova, Miami, Boston, Houston, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago with its own airline code and flight number in addition to the already existing cooperation on Istanbul – Karachi/ Islamabad/ Lahore vv. routes; while Turkish Airlines will market Pakistan International Airlines operating flights from Karachi and Islamabad to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Muscat and from Lahore to Dubai and Abu Dhabi with its own airline code and flight number.

Conakry (Republic of Guinea) will be the 296th destination across 120 countries currently being served by Turkish Airlines. The capital city of Republic of Guinea, Conakry will be joining the network on January 30 and become the 51st destination served in the continent. Roundtrip flights between Istanbul and Conakry will be operated 2 times per week on Mondays, and Thursdays in both directions. Introductory round trip fares are available from Istanbul to Conakry starting at $699 (including taxes and fees).  Additionally, for the first 6 months of operation to Conakry, Miles&Smiles members will be able to earn 25% extra status miles. Conakry flight times as scheduled from January 30 — TK 537 on Monday, Thursday at IST              12:30 and CKY by 19:35 with TK 537 on Monday, Thursday at CKY 20:30 and IST 08:40 +1.