TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
One of the unique carriers in the Middle East that covers largest amount of destinations, Turkish Airlines has been popular for its product quality and service. The airline connects the world with its unstinted commitment to provide the travellers exactly what they require.
Shehara Rizly
Leading Airline in Middle East
Flying to every nook and corner in the Middle East, Turkish Airlines has become the leading European airline to operate in the region. Middle East alone has many airlines of its own, yet Turkish Airlines holds 11.2 per cent market share in 2021, according to sources. Ten years during the pre-pandemic period from 2009 to 2019, which were the golden years for Turkish Airlines, it increased its capacities by almost 3.2 times with an annual average increase of 12.4 per cent.
The pandemic did not deter the airlines from performing, it just used a different strategy. In place of passengers, cargo operations surged during the pandemic, which gave the airlines options. However, by the end of 2021, Turkish Airlines added the number of cities in the region. As restrictions ease, 2022 seems to be the year of hope and Turkish Airlines too will have the opportunity to increase its flights within the Middle East region.
From the service perspective, Turkish Airlines’ usage of Arabic is another unique drive that helps confidence of the Middle East travellers. From its call centres, to social media and even its help desks, use of Arabic, Turkish and English has a great impact.
Codeshare for more connectivity
The recent announcement of some codeshare partnerships and frequent flyer programmes, Turkish Airlines will further enhance its network and connectivity across the globe. One of the latest announcements was its partnership with GOL (GOL Linhas Aéreas, the leading company in the Brazilian market). Through this codeshare partnership, passengers will be able to purchase tickets to destinations in Brazil from flights departing from Istanbul and many other airports in Asia, the Middle East, Far East and Africa. Linking of two carriers’ frequent flyer programs (FFP), will enable members of the Miles&Smiles and Smiles loyalty schemes to earn and redeem miles when flying on either carrier. Connectivity wise Asuncion, Santiago, Montevideo, Lima destinations in the region of Brazil will be accessible to travellers from Middle East, Africa, Asia and Far East. Currently, Turkish Airlines operates seven daily flights to GRU Airport, São Paulo’s international airport in Guarulhos (GRU).
Commenting on the agreement Bilal Ekşi, CEO, Turkish Airlines, said; “As Turkish Airlines, we are pleased to launch codeshare and FFP cooperation with GOL in Sao Paulo that will allow passengers unique travel alternatives via İstanbul to Brazilian domestic routes. They will enjoy FFP benefits with the new flight options, along with a more convenient travel experience. By this opportunity, we also hope to make contribution to the commercial relations between our respective countries.”
“As two of the main airlines in Brazil and Turkey, GOL and Turkish Airlines offer the best experience to their passengers. Enabling Turkish Airlines passengers to reach the largest number of flights and destinations in Brazil with this agreement is a pleasure for us,” said Paulo Kakinoff, President, GOL. “This will be another opportunity for the world to get to know the beauties of Brazil through the various Turkish Airlines’ connections to the GOL flights across the country,” added the CEO.
Another such codeshare signed recently was the one with Air Serbia, which adds more destinations in its global network. Currently connects Belgrade to Banja Luka, Tivat, Ankara and from Istanbul: Ankara, İzmir, Adana, Antalya, Dalaman, Gaziantep, Kayseri, Konya, Trabzon, Gazipaşa, Bodrum, Odessa, Kiev, Amman, Cairo, Tel Aviv, Nis and Kraljevo.
“As Turkish Airlines, we are glad to expand our existing cooperation through this enhanced codeshare agreement with Air Serbia. With the introduction of new codeshare flights on several destinations in Serbia, Turkey and Balkans; passengers have started to benefit from an effective opportunity to enjoy more travel alternatives. We hope to provide further travel opportunities for our customers with the enhanced bilateral rights in the forthcoming period. By this chance, I would like to thank Mr. Marek and his team for their efforts to put this enhancement into effect. Without a doubt, this step would also be a substantial added value for the bilateral relations of both countries,” said Bilal Ekşi, Turkish Airlines’ CEO.
