TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
Turkish Airlines has been expanding its international network. Also, the airline has introduced several exciting developments aimed at enhancing the experience of passengers. Mahmut Yayla, Director, Sales, Turkish Airlines, in an interview with TRAVTALK, shares the airlines plans, routes for the year, as well as the importance of the MENA region for their growth potential over the next few years.
TT Bureau
What are the latest routes launched by Turkish Airlines and what is in the pipeline?
Turkish Airlines continues to expand its global network and achieved a Guinness World Record as “the most countries flown by an airline”. We have recently added exciting destinations such as Santiago in Chile, offering another gateway to South America. We also entered the Australian market with the opening of Melbourne and Sydney routes to connect our customers to the vibrant culture and landscapes Down Under
to our network.
We have started Turkish Airlines flights to the cities of Tripoli and Benghazi in Libya thereby strengthening our presence in North Africa, Turin in Italy, providing access to another beautiful Italian city and Denver in the United States, expanding our network in the North America. Looking ahead in this year, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our new route to Ohrid in North Macedonia during this Spring seaon. This will be our second destination in North Macedonia, further enhancing connectivity in the Balkans.
Türkiye is the destinations most visited by tourists from MENA region. What destinations are popular?
Nearly 7.5 million tourists, the nationals from MENA region have travelled to Türkiye. Last year, the number of Saudi Arabian, Algerian and Iranian nationals visiting Türkiye have reached an all-time high level. We are proud to connect travellers to 53 destinations within Türkiye alone. Popular destinations such as Istanbul, a city bridging continents and cultures, the stunning coastal resorts of Bodrum and Antalya, the scenic Black Sea region of Trabzon, the otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia and the dynamic city of İzmir
continue to draw travellers.
For those seeking unique experiences, we recommend exploring hidden gems such as Pamukkale-Denizli, with its stunning white terraces and ancient ruins, Dalaman, a gateway to the beautiful Lycian Coast, the lush tea plantations of Rize, the thermal springs and historical sites of Afyonkarahisar and the charming university town
of Eskişehir.
As an airline flying to most countries, what benefits does Turkish Airlines offer travellers?
We strive to provide a seamless and enjoyable travel experience to our valuable guests. Our TourIstanbul programme offers transit passengers the opportunity to discover the wonders of Istanbul during their layover. Passengers with layovers between six and 24 hours can take advantage of Tour Istanbul, which offers complimentary guided tours of the historic city’s highlights. For longer layovers of 20 hours or more, our Stopover Istanbul programme provides a complimentary hotel stay thereby allowing travellers to
truly immerse themselves in various facets of the city.
What benefits does Turkish Airlines offer passengers travelling with pets?
Ours is one of the most pet-friendly airlines. We understand that pets are part of the family keeping pets. We offer online pet booking for a streamlined experiences. We have launched a dedicated Pet Lounge at Istanbul Airport, ensuring a comfortable and stress-free environment for both pets as well as their owners. Turkish Airlines launched first pet passport in the industry. Hundreds of owners in UAE applied for the passport for their furry companions and the campaign will be launched once again in the UAE this year.
What are recent developments and services announced by the Turkish Airlines last year?
At Turkish Airlines, we have introduced several exciting developments aimed at enhancing experience of our passengers. One of our standout offerings is the Oldest Bread Project. Bread made from domesticated wheat had become a fundamental part of daily life in Taş Tepeler around 12,000 years ago. We have taken our sponsorship of the Taş Tepeler excavation site a step further—we are bringing the world’s oldest bread to the skies. We brought bread made from Einkorn and Emmer wheats to our in-flight menu—honouring Anatolia’s ancient culinary heritage. By serving the world’s oldest bread, made from wheat grown in Anatolia’s fertile lands, in the sky, we offer our passengers a culinary journey that dates back to over 12,000 years.
We have also announced the Crystal Business Class Suite, which sets a new benchmark in luxury travel with features such as adjustable privacy doors, wider seats, and elegant finishes. The new suite is designed according to the feedback of the passengers and created by the TCI, subsidiary of Turkish Airlines. Looking ahead, Turkish Airlines signed an agreement with TCI aircraft interiors (subsidiary of Turkish Airlines) focusing on IFC service solution in a bid to enhance the inflight services to provide free of cost, unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi across our entire fleet in the future. We have partnered with Lanvin to create an a sustainable amenity kit collection for Business Class. We unveiled UNESCO Türkiye Series” amenity kits, and “My Travel Buddy” toy sets for children.
