Tag: THY

Houston Welcomes Turkish Airways’ Direct Service to Istanbul

Turkish Airways Flight 34 arrives at Bush Intercontinental Airport / Photo credit: Brent Clanton

Houston is adding depth to its reputation as an international city of trade with the establishment of direct-service air travel to Istanbul, Turkey via Turkish Airlines.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker welcomed an entire delegation of Turkish dignitaries to Bush Intercontinental last night to usher-in a new age of commerce between Houston, Texas and Turkey.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker welcomes the Turkish Trade Delegation to Bush Intercontinental Airport / Phot credit: Brent Clanton

“It’s a bridge in the world, and it’s bridging the cultures, bridging the economy, and making it possible for us as Americans, and them as Turkish people, to communicate and do business for the future,” enthused Farouk Shami, Chairman of Farouk Systems Group, on hand to greet the first 777 flight to arrive direct from Istanbul.

Shami has done his homework, and with today’s signing of trade agreements with Houston and Turkey, he’s ready to do more business abroad: ”We’ll be working with two electronics tools for environmental beauty there,” Shami says. ”The economy is great in Turkey, and one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. I think we can share knowledge on how to improve our economy, as well.” Shami has already made three trips to Turkey to set up manufacturing and other alliances. ”There’s a big market that I can expand Farouk Business Systems into that,” he says.

When Turkey was shunned by the rest of Europe, the country turned eastward, and developed trade with partners in Asia and beyond. That’s turning into good fortune for Texas, with trade agreements opening the gates for more commerce…and easier access with Turkish Airways’ direct flights.

Houston’s Turkish Consul General, Cemalettin Aydin, says, ”It’s quite big because this flight will, I think, connect Houston to, I believe, one of the most-dynamic places in the middle of three continents, that is, Turkey, between Europe, Asia and Africa.”

Turkish Airways will operate four direct flights a week, increasing to six a week in July. Shami is looking forward to the trade reciprocity: ”Turkish Delights, for sure,” he laughs. “That is most-popular, you know, and they sell lots of hundred of millions of that, and we like sweets. That’s the first thing that comes to my mind.”

via Houston Welcomes Turkish Airways’ Direct Service to Istanbul | News 92 FM.

April 3, 2013
Turkish Airlines plans Istanbul-Sydney non-stops

The day before the Qantas-Emirates kicks off, Turkish Airlines gate crashes the party with non-stop intentions for Sydney-Istanbul flights

Great Circle Mapper SYD-IST diagram

Turkish Airlines CEO Temel Kotil intends to connect Europe and Australia with its first commercial non-stop air service next year by operating the Istanbul-Sydney route with either a 777-300ER or 7770200LR.

The report in ATW is light on details, but clear about aims.

Turkish Airlines doesn’t have any 777-200LRs in its large fleet of Airbus and Boeing airliners, which like the Airbus A345 is a jet with the range to fly the route non-stop both ways with a commercial payload, but it has been speculated that it could source some of the -200LRs within a year, and readily integrate them into its -300ER operations.

The story should be taken seriously. Istanbul airport is growing faster than Dubai airport, and unlike the latter, can be greatly expanded.

In the report, Kotil refers to both the non-stop ambitions and the possibility of connections through either Jakarta or Bangkok, which implies using either of those cities if the Sydney flights were operated with 777-300ERs which would need to refuel on the return leg.

From an air treaty perspective Indonesia is considered a difficult state with which to negotiate new services, making Bangkok the favourite when it comes to the -300ER probabilities.

The nominal great circle distance between Sydney and Istanbul is 14,956 kilometres, which is only 389 kilometres shorter than the 15,345 kilometres flown daily each way between Singapore and Newark (for New York City) by Singapore Airlines A340-500s, on what has been world’s longest scheduled passenger service since mid 2004.

The same fleet operates the world’s current second longest commercial flights between Singapore and Los Angeles, a nominal distance of 14,114 kilometres, but both services will end later this year with the retirement of the A345s.

The world’s third longest route but only one way is the Sydney-Dallas Fort Worth service flown by a Qantas 747-400ER at a nominal 13,804 kilometres.

Recently Turkish Airlines spoke cautiously about starting flights to Australia because of the Qantas-Emirates partnership over Dubai, which begins tomorrow. Something has changed, but the airline has always been comfortable with being reported as the major competitor on a global scale to Emirates.

Its current and rapidly growing network centred on Istanbul has the greatest potential for frequent connections to diverse European centres because the hub is within single-aisle jet range of those cities which are served by less frequent but larger Emirates wide-bodied airliners.

via Turkish Airlines plans Istanbul-Sydney non-stops | Plane Talking.

March 31, 2013
Jobless Greek Pilots Head for Turkey

Unemployed pilots in Greece have begun seeking jobs in Turkey due to the ongoing financial crisis, according to Turkish mass media.

Many Greek citizens choose Antalya to work in various fields, especially in tourism. More than 10 pilots have asked for jobs in Antalya. The number of applications from EU countries for work permits at the Foreign Division of the Antalya Police Department has increased, including 35 from Greece applying for jobs in tourism and aviation.

Many Turkish newspapers, such as Milliyet’s front page, Hurriyet, Cumhuriyet and Aksam have been covering the subject.

A few weeks ago, a retired rear admiral tried to cause problems to the relatively few Greek pilots who have started working for Turkey’s national air carrier, Turkish Airlines (THY), accusing them of being agents. The rear admiral in question is Turker Erturk, who resigned in 2011 in protest of the High Military Council’s decision not to promote him. His name was on the list of suspects for the Sledgehammer case.

As the daily Today’s Zaman reports, THY officials rejected Erturk’s claims, noting that there are currently 2,378 pilots working for THY, 48 percent of whom have a military background. They also stated that there are 295 foreign pilots working for the company, 31 of whom are from Greece.

via Jobless Greek Pilots Head for Turkey | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece.

March 19, 2013
Airline Uniforms Stir Fears of Conservatism in Turkey

Internationally renowned Turkish designer Dilek Hanif says that she received no pressure to produce conservative new designs for Turkish Airlines. (Tiejun Wang/The Epoch Times)

ISTANBUL—New cabin crew uniforms have become the latest ignition for Turkey’s ever-smouldering debate on religious conservatism in politics.

State-owned Turkish Airlines (THY) was accused of leaning toward conservatism after photos of new sample uniforms were leaked on Twitter. The airline strenuously denies the accusations, saying the photos were of a rejected design.

The leaked images of the cabin crew uniforms led the public, fashion designers, and journalists to voice heavy criticism of the airline and of world famous designer Dilek Hanif for what they saw as conservative and uncomfortable designs.

Turkish Airlines would like to try something unique that includes both modern and ethnic patterns to better reflect airline’s brand image.

—Dilek Hanif, fashion designer

One photo that showed a stewardess with Ottoman-style long caftans, fez (felt hat), and thick socks was leaked on Twitter by another designer, raising an immediate response on social media.

“Turkish Airlines would like to try something unique that includes both modern and ethnic patterns to better reflect the airline’s brand image” said designer Hanif in an interview with The Epoch Times.

“There is a very big misunderstanding. The selecting committee wanted to see the patterns and longer skirts as an option. After seeing it, they agreed that it was not suitable and eliminated it right away. It is unfortunate that picture was leaked on Twitter.” Hanif stresses that she has not received any kind of pressure from government or airline’s management to design conservative dresses.

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Some think that Turkish Airlines, 49 percent owned by the government, has been influenced by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)—a centrist Islamic party.

“AKP during its ten-year rule has been consciously imposing this kind of change. This is a product of AKP mindset implementing changes step by step that attract public reaction” said Vice President of Republican People’s Party (CHP) Umut Oran.

Turkish Airlines, Best European Airline award winner, made a public statement confirming that the selection of the uniforms had not been finalized. The company said there are many options, and immediately released new photos showing other uniform designs.

But rumors regarding an alcohol ban on some Turkish Airlines’ flights have kept them in the melee of the debate on religious conservatism.

Rumors started with a tweet by a Turkish singer Demet Akalin on Feb. 9 saying, “Turkish Airlines flight from Adana had no alcohol service! It has been lifted in some domestic flights, FYI! Tourists in the front seat rebelled.”

On the same day, Hurriyet columnist Vahap Munyar wrote that there was no alcohol service in a flight to Kayseri and when asked cabin crew blamed the service company for neglecting to upload alcohol.

Rising criticisms prompted Turkish Airlines to release a public statement on Feb. 13 to clarify the new alcohol policy. The company has confirmed that alcohol is only served in business class on domestic flights. Business passengers in 5 out of 16 domestic routes are served alcohol, with the alcohol service removed from the other 11 due to lack of demand, says the airline. In addition, Turkish Airlines has removed alcohol service on flights to 8 countries (out of 98). The company has cited requests from the countries themselves as the cause behind its policy.

But the clarifications by Turkish Airlines have not helped to soothe reactions.

It was noted o a person’s microblog that the Turkish Airlines is at the forefront of a religious war against alcohol use in Turkey.

Vice president of Republican People’s Party, Umut Oran claimed, “Emirates and Qatar Airlines still serve alcohol on flights to those countries,” and has sent a parliamentary question to Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek on Turkish Airlines’ new alcohol policy. Oran has asked whether the airlines has received direct instructions from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

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“The decision we have taken has nothing to do with politics. My duty is to manage Turkish Airlines in [the] most effective and profitable way. We make decisions based on purely economic considerations,” said Hamdi Topcu chairman of Turkish Airlines in an interview with Radikal newspaper.

Columnist Ertugrul Ozkok blamed Turkish Airlines for separating the country and wrote, “Do you mean those who fly to the western cities of this country are ‘profanes,’ and those flying to the rest are clean believers? …You have transformed Turkey into such a faith federation.”

via Airline Uniforms Stir Fears of Conservatism in Turkey | Middle East | World | Epoch Times.

March 9, 2013
Turkish Airlines strengthen GCC tourist arrivals with new ‘Winter in Turkey’ campaign

Turkish Airlines, the national carrier of Turkey and Europe’s best airline, is promoting the country’s diverse cultural wonders, exhilarating winter activities and enriching holiday experiences as part of its ‘Winter In Turkey’ campaign, offering tourists competitive prices and promotions to one of the world’s fastest growing tourist destinations.

Building on its credentials as the world’s fastest growing airline, Turkish Airlines has a growing network across the Middle East, which now provides access to over 200 destinations worldwide. The heightened popularity of Turkey as an all-round holiday destination is further complemented by the award winning service and competitively priced flights of Turkish Airlines, whether for a holiday trip or stop-over in Istanbul for beyond destination travel.

The number of tourists travelling to Turkey from the GCC region have increased dramatically in the last few years, with a growth of over 370% from the UAE and almost 600% from Qatar comparing August 2011 to August 2012 figures, all contributing to over 31 million foreign tourists to the country in 2012.

Turkish Airlines President and CEO, Temel Kotil, Ph.D said: “As the national carrier of Turkey, we are delighted with the growing popularity of Turkey as a preferred tourism destination for visitors from around the world, including the GCC region. Turkey’s spectacular cultural blend of Eastern and Western influences and cultural linkages with the Middle East make the country a popular destination amongst GCC tourists.

“With Istanbul less than five hours away from the Gulf Region, and the country offering access to winter sports for almost half the year, we are confident passenger number will increase with the launch of our new ‘Winter in Turkey’ campaign.”

The ‘Turkey in Winter’ campaign, running until March, highlights the country’s seasonal offering, as a playground for exhilarating sports with over 20 skiing destinations, as well as the enriching cultural experiences in Istanbul and historical cities, delectable culinary delights and stunning natural scenery.

The ski slopes in the country are set to international standards and host competitions including the upcoming World Youth Snow-Board championships from March 1-11 in Erzurum. For those seeking relaxation, there is an abundance of thermal spas in world-famed areas like Pamukkale and Sandikli.

In 2013, the number of beds in ski resorts is set to grow by 60,000 to accommodate for the soaring popularity of winter tourism in the country. In resorts like Erciyes, where occupancy rates have approached 100%, construction of 21 hotels is due to begin this year. According to the Kayseri Tourism Master Plan, the 275 million Euro investment is expected to provide 5,000 additional hotel rooms, setting Erciyes as one of the best mountain and winter sports resorts in the Middle East and Balkans.

Bursa, a key winter destination nestled in the northwest of Turkey and the erstwhile capital of the Ottoman Empire, is famed for Mount Uludag and an expansive ski resort which combines traditional elements of chic alpine chalets and log fires, with fine dining, five star hospitality and relaxing spa facilities.

Mr. Sahabettin Harput, Governor of Bursa, said: “Bursa is regarded as a pioneer of winter tourism in Turkey because of its traditional approach to Alpine hospitality. The city’s rich historical relevance pays homage to the opulence of the Ottoman Empire and provides tourists with the ultimate winter holiday destination.”

Whether traversing the snow-capped mountains of Bursa or marvelling at the historical sites of Istanbul, Turkish Airlines, as Europe’s Best Airline, offers affordable luxury for the journey. Its Miles & Smiles loyalty programme rewards frequent flyers; Wingo promotions provide competitively priced tickets; and guests travelling business class can enjoy Europe’s largest CIP lounge in Istanbul.

Building on its credentials as the world’s fastest growing airline, Turkish Airlines has a growing network across the Middle East, which now provides access to over 200 destinations worldwide.

via Turkish Airlines strengthen GCC tourist arrivals with new ‘Winter in Turkey’ campaign | Turkish Airlines | AMEinfo.com.

March 7, 2013
Istanbul Ataturk Airport Accessibility Report

Twenty second busiest airport in the world, Istanbul Airport access facilities and services are overall good, but feature one facility being the cause for safety concern.

Just short of 45 million passengers made use of Istanbul Atatürk airport in 2012. Of those, approximately 240,000 where disabled passengers flying Turkish Airlines. The airport buildings are owned by a government controlled company, while the airport is operated by privately owned TAV Airports. French stakeholder Aeroports de Paris controls 38% of TAV Airports.

Reduced Mobility Rights visited Atatürk International Terminal on 19 February. Terminal 2 is the newest, inaugurated in 2000. PRM service provider at Istanbul airport is Tez Medikal. The service is branded PortClinic.

Prior to our walkabout in the airport’s facilities, we sat down with management of the airport authority, of Turkish Airlines, and PortClinic for a briefing on services available to disabled passengers.

PRM information immediately available was related to services provided to passengers with reduced mobility flying Turkish Airlines. Data presented reflects dynamics and percentages mirroring access assistance services provided in airports across the EU, with wheelchair assistance being the most common request for support.

Like every other visit, we begin from the entrance to the main terminal building. There were no wheelchair accessible taxis in sight; therefore, it is highly recommendable to pre-book this service.

There are numerous calling points, some wheelchair accessible, in the proximity of Terminal 2 entrance doors. Some columns provide information in braille for the visually impaired while all are fitted to be of use to the hearing impaired. Disabled passengers arriving at the airport can be met by access agents at these calling points, or make their way to the airlines’ counters. Turkish Airlines has its own exclusive special assistance counter at the right end of the Terminal building.

All passengers are subject to a complete security checks upon entering Istanbul airport. Each check point features a priority lane dedicated to disable passengers.

PortClinic addressed the difficulty of operating in a large size terminal environment by introducing powered wheelchairs. These smart vehicles are well perceived by disabled passenger, and allow access agents to provide quality support without excessive physical effort.

Once completed check in formalities, passengers are helped through passport control. The airport features a dedicated priority channel for disabled passengers.

Once reached the airside of the terminal, disabled passengers can make use of dedicated waiting areas, or ask to be taken to one of the numerous restaurants located in the departure hall.

As we walk through the always accessible terminal, we come across a serious safety concern. Accessible toilets feature a power operated door. Shortly after pressing the open button, we are hit by the opening door. We move aside to allow the door to open completely. Within seconds the door begins to close, inevitably pushing us forward. The experience is unpleasant for an able body, and we see the hazard it represents if the door is operated by a person in a self-propelled wheelchair, a blind passenger, or a passenger with mental delay.

Expanding our reach, consequences could become catastrophic if the door is operated by an unaccompanied child. Reduced Mobility Rights appreciates our note of concern has been received by Istanbul airport management, and that an immediate investigation has been opened to identify ways of making access to these toilets safe.

On a brighter note, Istanbul Atatürk features a medical area to accommodate passengers with medical problems. The room is manned by paramedics at all times, to ensure medical emergencies can be tackled immediately.

The airport operates ambulifts to assist passengers with reduced mobility to board and deplane aircraft parked on remote stands.

During our tour, we noted as communication skills can present a problem. Not all access agents have knowledge of a second language, and knowledge of the English language is short of rare.

With ambitious plans of expansions to become a 150 million passengers per year hub by 2018, and being

home of Turkey’s flag carrier, which also aims to become a global airline, Atatürk faces the challenge to be able to provide access services and facilities matching its intentions.

Reduced Mobility Rights believes this interim report highlights two areas where immediate action is needed. Our goal is to promote inclusion and access in the aviation industry. In this perspective, we are available to Istanbul airport management to provide in-depth technical analysis and strategic advice to ensure Istanbul Atatürk airport can provide excellent access facilities and outstanding support services.

About the author

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Reduced Mobility Rights, Roberto Castiglioni is an expert of PRM regulations and handling procedures, and has personal experience as travelling partner and carer of a passenger with reduced mobility.

Roberto is a member of the Disability Working Group of the Civil Aviation Authority. He is also a member of the Easyjet Special Assistance Advisory Group. Chaired by David Blunkett MP, the independent advisory group esaag provides Easyjet with strategic guidance and practical advice on the evolving needs of passengers requiring special assistance.

via Istanbul Ataturk Airport Accessibility Report | The News.

February 21, 2013