Tag Archives: Turkish Airlines

The Turkish Airlines Corporate Club Conference, hosted by Turkish Airlines in partnership with the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), took place in Istanbul from September 25-26 at the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti Hotel. The event welcomed over 500 international guests to network and enjoy true Turkish hospitality while learning about the latest offerings and key benefits of the Turkish Airlines Corporate Club. The conference presented global trends in the business travel segment, as well as highlighted the latest developments in the aviation industry. This year the theme was ‘Traveler Centricity’. Hundreds of decision makers and key players from the global business travel community are in Istanbul for a line-up of distinguished speakers as well as to learn how Turkish Airlines Corporate Club can add more value to their business. Attendees were welcomed by Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines, M. İlker Aycı and keynote speaker Ron Kaufman who kicked off the one-day event. Panel speakers included Arda Ermut, President of the Investment Support and Promotion Agency, Serra Akçaoğlu, CEO and Board Member of Citibank Turkey and Tankut Turnaoğlu, Vice President & General Manager of P&G Turkey & Caucasus. Commenting on the conference, Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines, M. İlker Aycı said, “We are thrilled to welcome hundreds of high-ranking professionals and business travel leaders from all over the world to Istanbul for this unique event. Turkish Airlines Corporate Club Conference provides a great opportunity to learn the numerous advantages our renewed corporate travel program that offers to its members the latest trends in the business travel industry.”

The airline with the largest network in the world, Turkish Airlines, has recently collaborated with Dr Mehmet Oz, the producer and host of ‘The Dr. Oz Show’, on its ‘Fly Good Feel Good’ project, to provide not only a comfortable but also a healthy travel experience to its passengers. Dr Oz would give advice to the passengers on healthy eating habits and exercises, through short videos that would be available on the Turkish Airlines official website, social media and in-flight entertainment systems. His advice will also be printed in newspapers to extend its reach to maximum number of people. “Making our passengers’ flight experience more comfortable and enjoyable by continuously improving our brand experience is one of our top priorities,” said M. Ilker Ayci, Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines. How a person feels is just as important for us as our award-winning service quality.”

Turkish Airlines added Phuket as the 300th destination in their global network. The inaugural flight from Istanbul was welcomed by the customary water cannon salute in a formal ceremony at Phuket International Airport. Deputy Chairman and CEO of Turkish Airlines, Bilal Eksi, commented at the launch ceremony, “Turkish Airlines is excited to be bringing more value and connectivity to its passengers through its ever expanding network. As an award-winning airline that invites people to explore the beauties of our world, it was a natural choice for us to decide on Phuket as our next destination.” Introductory round trip fares for the Istanbul to Phuket flight, which has been launched on July 17, 2017, starts from $569 (including taxes and fees).  Direct flights from Istanbul to Phuket will be operated four times a week, on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. With Turkish Airlines launching flights to Phuket, Turkish Cargo has also launched freighter flights to the island.

Etihad Airways, Emirates Airline, Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways have all been cleared to allow customers to bring electronic devices, including laptops, tablets and e-readers, on flights from the Middle East into the United States. The ban on electronic devices that was implemented on ME flights travelling to the United States since March 25, 2017 ended on July 5, 2017.

Turkish Airlines has launched new flights from various cities in the Middle East and Germany to key tourist destinations in Turkey. The national carrier will launch direct flights between Turkish cities such as Bodrum, Antalya and Trabzon and the Middle East, beginning from this month. The airlines will be providing a total of 16 weekly flights between Jeddah, Kuwait, Riyadh, Al Qassim, Yanbu, Medina and Trabzon. Furthermore, they will also be providing 13 weekly flights between Jeddah, Baghdad, Erbil, Riyadh, Amman, Kuwait, Sulaymaniyah and Antalya during this summer. Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Stuttgart are other cities benefitting from the new direct flights, connecting travellers from Germany to Izmir. Additionally, passengers from Kuwait will also be able to travel directly to Izmir. Commenting on these direct flights, Turkish Airlines’ Deputy Chairman and CEO, Bilal Ekşi, said, “We are always looking to provide our passengers with the most convenient and time-efficient way of travel. Tourists worldwide have been continously 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, we operate globally so that travellers can now fly directly to their destination of choice.”  

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.