Tag: THY

2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four to land in Istanbul

Euroleague Basketball is pleased to announce the city of Istanbul as the home of the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four. The state-of-the-art Sinan Erdem Arena, which opened in 2010 to host the FIBA World Championships final stages, will host European basketball’s premier event in early May 2012. Euroleague Basketball President and CEO was joined by representatives of two partners in the event, Turgay Demirel, the President of the Turkish Basketball Federation; and Firuz Baglikaya, the President of Detur Group; as well as Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas and Hamdi Topçu, Chairman of the Euroleague’s title sponsor, Turkish Airlines, to make the announcement on Sunday at a media conference hours before tip-off of the 2011 Turkish Airlines Euroleague title game at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona.

The 2012 Final Four brings the event back to Istanbul for the first time in two decades. Partizan defeated Joventut Badalona in the 1992 Final Four at Abdi Ipekci Arena. Sinan Erdem Arena, which has a capacity of over 16,000 for basketball, has become a leader in hosting premium sporting events. In addition to being the home of Euroleague club Efes Pilsen, Sinan Erdem Arena is also scheduled to host the year-end WTA Championships in each of the next three years plus the world indoor track and field championships and the world swimming championships in 2012.

Euroleague Basketball President and CEO Jordi Bertomeu:

“The reason why we are here is obvious if you look at the people I have the honor to have with me at this table. I have to say that we are glad to announce that the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four will take place in the beautiful, amazing city of Istanbul at Sinan Erdem Arena in early May, as always, according to the Final Four tradition. The exact dates will be decided when the calendar is approved by the Euroleague General Assembly. We have waited a bit to announce this decision, but we wanted to close all details before making an official announcement. We have been working closely with basketball authorities in Turkey, especially with the Turkish Basketball Federation. The Euroleague is going to Turkey for many reasons that helped us make this decision. First, Turkish basketball has dramatically improved in the last years. We are very happy about the way basketball has grown in Turkey, at both club and national team level. Turkey has proven to have a high-level organization in the latest World Championships in August and September last year. The experience of Turkish Basketball Federation is a guarantee for us to have an excellent Final Four in Istanbul next year. We have two Istanbul-based Euroleague teams with a long tradition in our competition, Efes Pilsen and Fenerbahce Ulker, as well as some Eurocup teams. I definitely cannot forget the fact that we have enjoyed an unbelievably good partnership with Turkish Airlines this season. I want to take advantage of this moment to thank them for their commitment to the Euroleague and their contribution to make this event possible in Istanbul next year. I am confident that, coordinating with the Turkish Basketball Federation, one of the most active in Europe, we will deliver our fans an excellent event this year. I hope I see you all there next year.”

Turgay Demirel, the President of the Turkish Basketball Federation:

“I am very proud to be able to finalize negotiations with the Euroleague to host the event in 2012 in Istanbul, the sport capital of Europe for the coming year. Istanbul has been a very good host for many sporting events and the arena is very good. We hosted the FIBA World Championships and next year top clubs will compete in our beautiful town. We look forward to hosting all of you. We also thank Turkish Airlines for promoting this brand all over the world. I look forward to hosting you all Istanbul next year.”

Hamdi Topçu, Turkish Airlines Chairman:

“I greet you all with respect. One year ago, I was speaking with Jordi about hosting the Final Four in Istanbul and he told me was almost impossible, but Jordi opened the press conference with today’s good news, so I am very happy. Please allow to thank the people who really worked hard to bring the Final Four to Istanbul: The President of the Turkish Basketball Federation Turgay Demirel and Mayor of Istanbul Kadir Topbas were involved and I spoke on the phone today with the Turkish Minister of Sports Faruk Ozak. The city of Istanbul has hosted big things lately, so it is now new. The Government, municipality and other state organizations, including us, will work together and we hope to deliver the best to everyone. Turkish Airlines in the last eight years has proved itself as a great international brand with all its activities and services. Turkish Airlines has done many sponsorships and partnerships and one of the majors ones is with Euroleague Basketball. Turkish Airlines is already contributing and will continue to contribute to this the best it can over the next five years. This partnership will help our brand and also contribute to Euroleague Basketball. I want to thank again very much Jordi, the Turkish Basketball Federation and all those that have contributed.”

Istanbul joins a list of major European cities that have honored Euroleague Basketball by hosting the Final Four in recent years, including Barcelona this season, Berlin in 2009, Madrid 2008, Athens 2007, Prague 2006, Moscow 2005, Tel Aviv 2004, Barcelona 2003 and Bologna 2002. In addition to the games themselves, which bring the best four teams from the Turkish Airlines Euroleague season together to decide a champion, the Final Four also features the annual NIKE International Junior Tournament and other parallel events.

Sunday, May 08, 2011

via 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four to land in Istanbul – MAIN PAGE – Welcome to EUROLEAGUE BASKETBALL.

May 9, 2011
Turkish Airlines cause change in visa policy

New Visa Rules For African Citizens Turkish Airlines cause change in visa policy

By Wolfgang H. Thome, eTN | May 03, 2011

(eTN) – Turkish Airlines has reportedly prevailed upon their immigration service in changing visa rules for African citizens, flying with Turkish from the airline’s growing network across the African continent, connecting in Istanbul for their final destination.

A source close to the airline in Kampala confirmed, while discussing the related issue of a Turkish Food Festival, that any passenger, wishing to do a stopover in Istanbul, or travel to see the ancient sites along the Mediterranean Sea and further inland, could now do so, as long as s/he already holds a valid Schengen visa, a visa to the United States or the UK.

This change in policy seems to emulate the successful campaign Emirates has been running for decades now in which they assist travelers from Africa with the procurement of a visitor visa, and Turkey will have taken a lead from this success and now implemented measures to bring more visitors and more cash into their own country.

Travelers from Africa, especially those already cleared for visa to Europe, the UK and the US/Canada pose a minimal risk to jump and remain while enroute outbound or homebound, and it was probably for such considerations that the Turkish authorities listened to Turkish Airlines in their quest to capture more passengers and bring more visitors to Turkey.

The airline presently flies several times a week between Istanbul and Entebbe, before flying on to Dar es Salaam.

Alongside these changes, Turkey has also of late embarked on a diplomatic offensive in those African countries they fly to, bringing in government and private sector delegations aimed to discuss increased trade links, tourism, and generally closer economic and political ties with key African countries. Turkish Airlines has one of the fastest-growing fleets and is a member of Star Alliance, the global aviation industry leader.

via New Visa Rules For African Citizens Turkish Airlines cause change in visa policy – eTurboNews.com.

May 5, 2011
Eased Visa Regulations from Turkish Airlines

Citizens flying Turkish Airlines from 46 countries in sub-Saharan Africa will be granted visas at Istanbul’s Ataturk airport if they also have valid Schengen, UK or US visas in their passports.

Among those sub-Saharan Africa countries are Angola, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Gambia, Cameron, Comoros, Congo, D. Congo, Melawi, Niger, Nigeria, Ruanda, Senegal, Somali, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

With the reinforcement of this new regulation a boom in the commercial ties and the number of passengers flying Turkish Airlines is being expected.

Emphasizing on the efforts for eased visa regulations Mr. Hamdi Topcu, the Chairman of Board of Directors of Turkish Airlines, said “It has been difficult for citizens to apply for visa because of the remote locations of Turkish Embassies in many countries in Africa. With the attempt of Turkish Airlines eased visa regulations have been agreed on and reinforced by both Interior Ministry and Foreign Affairs Ministry. Our President and our Prime Ministered did contribute to the positive outcome of this issue as well. We kindly thank them. The implementation of this decision regarding eased visa regulations for citizens of those African countries with Schengen, UK or US visas in their passports will increase the keen interest to both for Turkey and Turkish Airlines.”

The rules of eased visa regulations for citizens from sub-Saharan African countries are as follows:

* Valid passport,

* Date of expiration should have minimum 6 months of period,

* They should have valid Schengen, UK or US visas in their passports and have not being rejected or deported by those countries before,

* They should be traveling on tourism or business purposes and should have necessary documents (hotel reservation, sufficient monetary funds such as amount of $50 per diem, etc),

* Round-trip flight ticket from Turkish Airlines,

* They should not be among those who were forbidden entering Turkey or have been deported by Turkey before.

Businessmen from SAGA countries are going to be granted six-month valid single entry visas giving a 30 day residence permit in exchange for 20 Dollars or 15 Euros provided that they arrive in Turkey for holiday or within the framework of business or trade talks and are also the bearers of valid Schengen, UK or US visas.

Published by Ozgur Tore

April 26, 2011
Turkish Airlines’ first airplane to land in Erbil on April 14

The Kurdish Globe

By Aiyob Mawloodi–Erbil

With three flights per week, Turkey’s national carrier launches Istanbul-Erbil flights

Turkey’s national carrier Turkish Airlines (Türk Hava Yolları) is finalizing preparations to begin flights to Erbil in mid April. The decision for the Turkish state airline to launch a route to the Kurdish Region of Iraq in mid April was disclosed in late March when Turkish Prime Minister Recep Teyyip Erdogan and President of the Region Massoud Barzani jointly opened the new Erbil International Airport.

Erbil airport was opened mid 2005, but it was upgraded in 2010 to accommodate new technology. Its runway is said to be the longest in the Middle East and the fifth longest in the world, after airports in China, Russia, South Africa and the U.S.

So far, only private airlines have operated the flights between Kurdistan and Turkey, “But we have decided to also include Turkish Airlines,” said Erdogan.

“THY has finished all preparations to operate the first flight on April 14,” an airline official told Aknews. “The company has started selling tickets, and three flights per week will be operated to Erbil, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.”

By April 14, the total flights between the Kurdish capital and Istanbul will be seven flights per week, as Atlas Jet, one of Turkey’s private airline companies, currently operates four flights per week.

Turkish Airlines, established May 20, 1933 under Law 2186 in Ankara, under the name State Airlines Administration, part of the Ministry of Defense, operates scheduled flights to 134 international destinations, serving 175 airports in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

Earlier, Abdul Hussein Abtan, a member of the Najaf Provincial Council, told a Kurdish news agency that the civil aviation authorities in Iraq and Turkey have given Turkish Airlines the go ahead for 36 flights a week between Istanbul and six Iraqi airports: Baghdad, Erbil, Najaf, Suleimaniya, Basra and Mosul.

Currently, Atlas Jet’s four flights are between Atatürk Airport in Istanbul and Erbil International Airport. The increased number of flights between Turkey and Iraq is hoped to lower the cost of air travel.

The 27,000-square-meter Erbil Airport was designed by a British company and construction was by a Turkish company. It can operate 150 flights per day.

As the volume of trade and business relations between the Kurdish Region and Turkey are increasing at a rapid pace, and the diplomatic relations between the two areas is improving, especially with the official visit by Erdogan to Erbil in late March, the need for fast and reliable transportation between Kurdistan and Turkey is increasing every day. One of the most crowded flights to and from Erbil has been the Istanbul flight operated by Atlas Jet.

Turkish Airlines’ introduction of new routes between the two cities will further facilitate business relations between Turkey and Kurdistan Region, as well as Iraq. It may also reduce crowding and lower prices.

Starting with the passenger flights, Turkish Cargo, a brand of Turkish Airlines launched a cargo service to Erbil. The cargo service is operated through passenger flights, three times weekly. From May 11, Turkish Cargo will offer a cargo service to Basra, through passenger flights, four times weekly.

By expanding its network with two more destinations in the Middle East and North Africa region, and introducing freight service to Iraq, Turkish Cargo is on the path to becoming a stronger actor in the region. Turkish Cargo intends to increase its cooperation with Turkish Airlines and the frequency of flights to increase its market share in Iraq as well as to connect the Iraqi market to the world market.

The volume of trade between Turkey and Iraq has passed $7 billion a year and, according to Erdogan, the aim is to increase the number to $25 billion annually. This is why Turkey is keen to strengthen ties with Iraq and Kurdistan Region. The decision by the Turkish government to launch direct flights to six airports in the country, two of them in Kurdistan, as well as the opening of branches of three Turkish banks in Kurdistan, is a clear indication of that intention.

Recently, the branches of three Turkish banks – T.C. Ziraat Bankasi (Agricultural Bank of the Turkish Republic), a state-owned bank; Türkiye Iş Bankasi; and Vakif Bank — opened in Erbil, mainly to facilitate the activities of the hundreds of Turkish companies doing business in the Region and the Kurdish traders who have business with Turkish firms and business people.

via KurdishGlobe- Turkish Airlines’ first airplane to land in Erbil on April 14.

April 11, 2011
168 people brought from Libya to Turkey

168 people, who left Libya due to upheaval in the country and proceeded to Tunisia, were brought to Turkey on Friday.

168 people, who left Libya due to upheaval in the country and proceeded to Tunisia, were brought to Turkey on Friday.

168 people most of whom are Turks arrived at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul by a plane of Turkish Airlines (THY) within the scope of evacuation conducted by Turkish Embassy in Tunisia.

Turkey has so far evacuated at least 21,000 people including foreign nationals from Libya, since the beginning of the protests against Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year reign.

AA

April 2, 2011
Turkish Airlines Initiates Visa-Free Balkans Project

THY stated on Wednesday that the project would be initiated in Balkan countries that did not ask visa from Turkish citizens.

THY has flights to capital cities of all Balkan countries.

The project covers Zagreb (Croatia), Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Pristina (Kosovo), Skopje (Macedonia), Podgorica (Montenegro), Tirana (Albania) and Belgrade (Serbia) which do not ask visa.

THY offers special fees and travel packages within the scope of the project.

Istanbul-based THY, which is a Star Alliance member, is one of the fastest growing and prosperous carriers in the world.

THY posted 389 million Euro of profit in 2009, becoming one of the top companies, following Air China and Ryan Air, in the world that recorded the highest profit in 2009.

THY is also an official sponsor for English soccer team Manchester United and for Spain’s Barcelona.

AA

March 30, 2011