Tag: Temel Kotil

THY director general elected chairman of Association of European Airlines

THY Director General elected chairman of executive board of Association of European Airlines.

BRUSSELS

The annual general assembly meeting of the Association of European Airlines took place in Brussels.

Speaking to AA correspondent, Kotil said that the decision that was made at the annual meeting meant that European airlines appreciated progress by Turkey in the aviation sector in the recent years.

“We will carry Turkey’s success in the aviation sector to Europe,” he said regarding his goal during his term.

Kotil said that he would exert efforts for visa-free travel for Turkish citizens in European countries and other issues.

Kotil was born in Rize in 1959. He graduated from Aeronautical Engineering Department at Istanbul Technical University in 1983. In 1986, he completed his first master’s degree in the United States from the Aircraft Engineering Department of Michigan University, his second master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1987, and his PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 1991. Kotil served as Assistant Associate Professor and Associate Professor at Istanbul Technical University at the Faculty of Aircraft and Space Sciences. At the same department, he served as Assistant Department Head and Associate Dean. In 2003, he began his carrier with Turkish Airlines as Vice President of the Technical Department. In 2005, he was appointed General Manager of Turkish Airlines, and in 2006, he was elected a member of the IATA Boards of Directors. In 2010, Kotil was appointed as a Board Member of the Association of European Airlines. Kotil is married and has four children.

via THY director general elected chairman of Association of European Airlines Anadolu Agency.

November 23, 2012
Turkish Airlines eager for new Istanbul airport by 2016

By Kurt Hofmann

Turkish Airlines A340-300 at Istanbul. By Rob Finlayson

Turkish Airlines (TK) needs a bigger airport and hopes the new Istanbul airport will be built by 2016.

CEO Temel Kotil told ATW in Istanbul that TK’s hub at Istanbul Ataturk, which handles about 32.9 million passengers per year, is too small and has hindered the carrier’s growth strategy.

Kotil said TK already occupies “75% of the airport capacity” but it also wants to other carriers to be there.

“Experts say in five years from now the new airport will be ready,” said Kotil, who noted the final location will be selected soon and construction is likely to begin by year end.

The new airport should handle up to 120 million passengers and have five runways. It will be 6,000 hectares (14,826 acres), six times bigger than the current Ataturk airport, Kotil said.

The growth of the new airport will be “more important for Turkey’s future than for the growth of the airline, but it will push us to develop faster,” Kotil said.

Istanbul’s second airport, Sabiha Gokcen, served 11.6 million passengers in 2010, according to the Arthur D. Little World Airport Report.

Kotil said TK’s hub is perfectly positioned globally and is a “goldmine” for the carrier. He said TK generates “$6 billion from international passenger business, but “we can grow this up to $40 billion.” International transfer passengers at IST should increase to 20 million, up from 5.6 million, by 2016, Kotil said, noting that TK’s international passengers should reach 50 million.

TK operates 175 aircraft and transports 29.1 million passengers.

via Turkish Airlines eager for new Istanbul airport by 2016 | ATWOnline.

October 16, 2011
Istanbul to be in Top 5 Convention Cities list

Istanbul Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB) announced on Tuesday their target of making Istanbul in the Top 5 convention destinations of the world in next 5 years.

ICVB organized its annual members’ luncheon at the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICOC) Headquarters in Eminönü with the participation of Istanbul Governor Hüseyin Avni Mutlu, Turkish Airlines’ President Temel Kotil, representatives of its member companies and organizations as well as representatives of media.

Taking the stage to make the opening and welcome speech; ICVB Vice President Yilmaz Tecmen said, “Istanbul now becomes one of the most popular convention destinations in the world. ICCA’s 2010 ranking that ranks Istanbul 6th in Europe and 7th in the world confirmed Istanbul’s popularity”.

Tecmen said that “city marketing organizations” led by Istanbul Chamber of Commerce and ICVB’s ‘convention campaign’ that started in 2007 show its results today not only in tourism sector but also in about 100 sectors that registered to ICOC.

Tecmen sent his appreciation to ICOC President Murat Yalçıntaş who is also the President of ICVB since 2006 for his success. Recalling that Istanbul was only able to enter the list in the 40th spot holding nearly 20 congresses in 2000, Tecmen said, “Raising the number of congresses rapidly over the last 10 years, the city entered the top 10 across the world, which shows an important success.”

Tecmen revealed their target to bring up Istanbul in the Top 5 within 5 years.

ICVB General Manager Elif Balcı Fisunoğlu took the stage after Mr. Tecmen and made a presentation of what has been done so far for Istanbul, and what Istanbul is likely to achieve in the next years. Mrs. Fisunoğlu said that Istanbul that hosted several important events such as meeting of the world’s largest congress organizer; MCI, Istanbul continued its success stories in the first half of 2011. Mrs. Fisunoğlu added, “Thanks to this success, many big organizations including AIDS and cardiology congresses held with the participation of nearly 25,000 delegates, plan to come to Istanbul”.

After Mrs. Fisunoğlu’s presentation, Turkey’s national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines’ President Temel Kotil took the stage and presented Turkish Airlines (THY) success story.

THY, which started direct flights to Iraq’s central province of Necef recently, flies to a total of 142 destinations directly, said Temel Kotil. Mr. Kotil said that Turkish Airlines targets to destinations where most of the carriers don’t fly and also serves best possible connections for long haul flights. Within this perspective, Mr. Kotil indicated that number of carriers flying to African destinations is very low when compared to other continents. “THY has already placed orders for 10 planes to fly to African countries and is readying to start direct flights to Manila, the capital of the Philippines soon,” added Mr. Kotil

via Istanbul to be in Top 5 Convention Cities list.

July 7, 2011