ÜBER TURKISH AIRLINES

Turkey's "rising star", Turkish Airlines, began its’ journey back in 1933 with 5 planes. Today, Turkish Airlines boasts a fleet of 344 aircrafts (passenger and cargo) and continues that journey with the same excitement. With its growth figures placing the company among the leading airlines in the world, Turkish Airlines, with a momentous decision in 2013, made the biggest airplane purchase in the history of Turkish Civil Aviation. 

In coming years, the standard-bearer Turkish Airlines aims to continue its surge to the top of the chart in service quality by maintaining the fleet age average. Given the large-scale aircraft orders and aircrafts that are to be leased and the leases to be expired, the total number of aircrafts is expected to be around 500 at the end of 2023, including cargo aircrafts in the Turkish Airlines fleet. 

The national airline, which has so far made countless significant ventures in the history of Turkish Civil Aviation, successfully continues to fulfill its mission. The opening of the maintenance and repair facilities at Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in 2014 facilitated by the Turkish Airlines Technic Inc., a successful subsidiary in the field of aircraft maintenance, repair, support and engineering services with the objective of increasing the technical maintenance and repair capacity and creating a comprehensive ecosystem is regarded to be a major step in Turkish Civil Aviation and the project has caused ripples in the aviation sector in general. The project, which was put into operation with an investment of $550 million, is expected to have a significant impact on the development of regional aviation and to be in the top five ranking of the world's largest aircraft maintenance and repair companies. The annual turnover of the maintenance and repair center, which currently employs approximately 9,000 people, is expected to reach $2 billion with its affiliates (TEC, Goodrich Turkish Technic Service Center, TCI Turkish Cabin Interior, Turkish Seat Industries TSI and Cornea Aerospace). 

Another important achievement of Turkish Airlines in recent years is the Aircraft Seat Manufacturing Industry and Trade Inc. (TurkishSeats Industries – TSI), founded with the partnership of Turkish Airlines A.O., Turkish Airlines Technic Inc. and Assan Hanil, the first national airplane seat manufacture, designed solely by Turkish engineers. The project which has made a significant impact on the aviation sector in 2014 was founded with an investment of 5 million US dollars in line with the proclaimed “vision of 2023; the 100th year anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey” which aims to manufacture a hundred percent Turkish made aircraft. After completing the installment of the first ever domestically designed aircraft seats on the Boeing 737-800, Turkish Seats Industries continues to refit the Airbus A319-320 and 321 aircrafts, replacing the seats that have completed their useful-life with brand seats designed in Turkey. 

Initially just refitting the existing fleet aircraft, the company carried on to export domestically designed seats to the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus, with the aim of raising passenger satisfaction by offering ergonomics and a comfortable travel space for passengers, the TSI brand has also been successfully registered in the US. Having increased its yearly revenue by 22% in 2018, TSI aims to further increase its market share with the manufacturing of business and premium economy class seats. 

The first ever in-house kitchen (galley); TCI (Turkish Cabin Interiors) designed solely by Turkish engineers is another significant advancement in Turkish Civil Aviation achieved through the partnership of Turkish Airlines A.O., Turkish Airlines Technic Inc. and TAI. Having received the first aircraft fitted with TCI kitchen equipment, Turkish Airlines continues to add to its fleet additional aircraft fitted with the same upgrades. 

Increasing its worldwide renown throughout 2017 and 2018, TCI continues to be awarded international contracts and was successful in being named “Global Offerable” and was included in the catalog as one of the four manufacturers for the new generation Boeing 737, one of the two most used aircrafts in the world. 

TCI, which boasts a 25% market share worldwide in business class seats, has undertaken a global cooperation with a 100% Airbus subsidiary, STELIA in manufacturing Business Class cabinets for Turkish Airlines' B787 and A350 aircraft orders. TCI has also agreed to be a supplier for STELIA and other international projects. In addition, the company has agreed with Airbus to become a catalog supplier to design and manufacture A350 airplane bar units for all international customers. 

Having increased its expertise and experience in cabin interior entertainment systems (IFE), Turkish Airlines Technic Inc., furthered its ongoing co-operation with Havelsan Inc. in the field and founded the Cornea Aerospace in October of 2018. The company, the goal of which is to acquire a global market share in the in-flight entertainment systems and be one of the world's leading IFE suppliers aims to become a supplier approved by Airbus and Boeing in the short-run.

Staff Number

To ensure the highest levels of passenger satisfaction, Turkish Airlines separates itself from its competitors by continuously developing its innovative approach in this regard, and permanently investing in its workforce which regarded as the most important factor in going from strength to strength by the carrier.

All the members of huge Turkish Airlines family, who adopt making passengers feel special and valued throughout their travel by developing new innovations at each stage of travel, offering them pleasant surprises and bringing them a diverse and memorable travel experience as a principle, play a crucial role in making the brand globally recognized along with its approx. thirty different operational areas.

Turkish Airlines, opening more international gateways across the world for its passengers than any other airline, currently offers a wide range of flights to 311 destinations in 124 countries.

Turkish Airlines, who has been performing a rising performance in its passenger potential for more than ten years, carried 10.4 million passengers in 2003. This figure rose to 29.1 million, 32.6 million, 39 million and 48.3 million passengers in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. In 2014, an impressive period of growth saw this number rise to around 55 million. The number of passengers carried in 2015 was 61.2 million, and this increased to 62.8 million by the end of 2016. While the number of passengers carried by the flag carrier reached to 68.6 million in 2017, Turkish Airlines’ total Load Factor improved by 4.7 points up to 79.1%, while international Load Factor increased by 5 points, up to 78.4%, during January-December 2017 period. During January-April 2018, increase in demand and total number of passengers was 21% and 24%, respectively, over the same period of last year, and the total number of passengers increased 9.5% and reached 75.2 million.

Can you tell us briefly about Turkish Airlines? 

On 20.05.1933 Turkish Airlines was established as an arm of the Ministry of National Defense under the name "State Airlines Administration". The first fleet consisted of two King Bird (five-seater), two Junkers F-13 (four-seater) and one 1 ATH-9 (ten-seater) aircraft. 

In 1938 it became an arm of the Ministry of Transport under the name of "State Airlines General Directorate". 

In 1947 it operated its first international flight from Ankara to Athens via Istanbul. 

In 1956 Turkish Airlines Inc. was established with 60 million TL of capital. 

In 1990 it was placed on the list of companies to be privatized, and in October of the same year, 1.82% of the company was put up for public offering. 

In 2004 23% of the company was put up for a second round of public offering, and In 2006 28,75% of the company was put up for a third round, which gave Turkish Airlines its privately owned status. 

On 01.04.2008 Turkish Airlines joined the world's largest family of airlines, "Star Alliance". 

On 23.04.2008 Turkish Airlines' subsidiary AnadoluJet began domestic operations. 

As from 03.02.2017 49,12% of the company is owned by the Turkish Wealth Fund Management CO and the rest of the shares are on free float except 1 C Group share, which belongs to the Republic Of Turkey Prime Ministry Privatization Administration. 

For over ten years, Turkish Airlines has stupendously increased its number of carried passengers. 10.4 million passenger were carried in 2003, and this rose to 29.1 million, 32.6 million, 39 million and 48.3 million passengers in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. In 2014, an impressive period of growth saw this number rise to around 55 million. The number of passengers carried in 2015 was 61.2 million, and in 2016 this increased to 62.8 million, and further increased to 68.6 million in 2017, and 75,2 million in 2018.

As of 2016, the chief executive officer (CEO) position of the company has been led by Bilal EKŞİ, and in recent years, Turkey's national carrier has not been focusing just on its own operations, but has been working with 15 different companies as its group of affiliates. 

What are Turkish Airlines' quality goals? 

Opening the doors of the world to its passengers with its 312 destinations, and 124 countries, Turkish Airlines' quality goals are so clear; to bring the passenger experience to a new level with its ever-expanding fleet, the location of its Istanbul hub that allows for one stop connections between virtually any two cities on earth and the rich cultural heritage which helped to form the basis of its award-winning service. Its enhanced strategy is to make passengers feel special and valued throughout their travel by developing new innovations at each stage of travel, offering them pleasant surprises and bringing them a diverse and memorable travel experience.

What's next for Turkish Airlines? 

Flying to more international destinations and countries across the world than any other airline, Turkish Airlines, aims to enter new markets and deepen existing markets with the contribution of Istanbul Airport, as the most important flag bearer of the promotion and prestige of our country. In the significant position of Istanbul as an international transfer hub, a center of world airline traffic, as a city cultural diversity, the carrier is permanently seeking to take the flight experience to a whole new level and surprise passengers through its innovative services at every stage of their journey.

What new routes will be starting in 2018? 

Turkish Airlines who recently launched Freetown (Sierra Leone), Samarkand (Uzbekistan), Aqaba (Jordan), Krasnodar (Russia), Londra Gatwick (Great Britain), Doha (Qatar), Banjul (Gambia), Lusaka (Zambia) and Moroni (Union of the Comoros) flights in 2018, is also planning to add some destinations as Marrakech (Morocco), and Palermo (Italy) to its ever-expanding network within this year. 

A significant number of new routes have been added to the flight network. Generally, how full are the flights? 

At the end of 2018, our load factor was 81.9%.

In addition to this, during January-April 2018, increase in demand and total number of passengers was 21% and 24%, respectively, over the same period of last year. Total number of passengers reached to 23 million. The total Load Factor improved by 5.8 points up to 81.2%. While international Load Factor increased by 6 points up to 81%, domestic load factor went up by approximately 4 points to 86%.

Furthermore, the seat occupancy rates on our newly launched routes are at the levels that we're satisfied with. Before Turkish Airlines opens a new route, a long process of research and evaluation takes place at first. It's not just the commercial value that taken into consideration when launching a new route, but Turkish Airlines’ primary mission at this point to reach every corner of the globe to be the Turkey's ambassador brand in those destinations.

Can you tell us about the Turkish Airlines fleet?

Having one of the Europe's youngest fleets with an average age of 8,2, Turkish Airlines has a total of 344 aircraft, of which 224 are narrow, 96 are wide bodies, and 24 are freighter.

We will continue to grow in line with our 2023 targets with the energy of Istanbul Airport. We aim to increase our aircraft number to over 500 in 2023, and continue our works in this regard.

With new wide body aircrafts we have recently ordered in last months, 6, 14, 10, 12, 11, 7 of them will be delivered respectively in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. We’ll take delivery of not only those wide bodies but also 167 new generation narrow bodies to our fleet as beginning from this June. Along with the development of our fleet, we will be keeping our flag flying in new markets, increasing our frequency depth, and carrying our connection quality even higher.

Along with the development of our fleet, we will be keeping our flag flying in new markets, increasing our frequency depth, and carrying our connection quality even higher. 

Cargo is a significant source of revenue for Turkish Airlines. Can you tell us a little about that? 

As a prominent subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, Turkish Cargo uses the extensive passenger fleet of Turkish Airlines to carry cargo to 311 destinations in 124 countries that the global carrier currently serves. Apart from this fleet, Turkish Cargo has also 15 dedicated cargo aircrafts, which offer dedicated cargo flights to 88 destinations around the world. Thanks to this wide cargo network, the company carried 1.41 million tons of cargo in 2017 - an increase of 26,15%, compared to the previous year. Additionally, during the January-April 2018, cargo/mail carried increased by 8.3% and reached 463 thousand tons, thanks to the strong pick up in cargo/mail volume in April of 2018.

The prominent air cargo brand was ranked in the top 10 in the international air cargo transportation according to WACD (World Air Cargo Data) data. The fastest growing air cargo brand in the world continues to be the preferred choice for air cargo transportation with its infrastructure, operational capabilities, fleet and well-equipped work force.

Why does Turkish Airlines use different concepts for its promotional videos and advertisements in different parts of the world? 

Turkish Airlines is a global brand among the top-ten airlines in the world. As such, within the scope of a great brand's advertising and promotion strategy, and in response to an ever-changing competitive market, tracking global trends and developments in the sector is pretty crucial. As a company which flies to 304 destinations across 120 countries, we devise our strategies in line with the regional sensitivities of local markets. The reason for creating unique promotional and advertising material for each region in which we aim to increase our market potential, is that the promotional requirements for each region which depend on varying demographic, cultural and geographical factors. We routinely conduct extensive market researches in the relevant region in order to deliver the right message, through the right channel, at the right time to the target audience. Our market researches are undertaken through an established process, and this has a significant impact on our ability to identify the regional needs for advertising. Our brand is growing fast, and one of our central goals is to ensure that our brand awareness grows in parallel with it, especially in our newly opened destinations. One of the most effective ways to raise the brand awareness is to conduct promotional activities with globally known celebrities and idols all over the world. Depending on research findings into brand awareness and regional research, Turkish Airlines develops different strategies for both its domestic and global activities. As such, the concept, channel and region for each piece of promotional content will vary. 

The fruits of this labor are clear. Researches show that Turkish Airlines is one of the most well-known airline brands in the world. 

In addition to these communication activities, today our brand is working toward sharing the values it believes in with customers, and establishing an emotional connection with them. The change from the "Globally Yours" motto to "Widen Your World" has been a clear indication of this. Beyond being simply a statement about the strength of our flight network, it is an appeal to discover the world. An invitation to see new countries and meet new cultures. Indeed, a call for people to widen their world. Last year, to further reach its global target audience, Turkish Airlines teamed up with Morgan Freeman to create a promotional film which shares our brand values with the entire world. It was first aired during the Super Bowl, and then turned into a global advertising campaign. 

Does Turkish Airlines invest in sport as part of its marketing campaign? 

Sponsorship investments play a key role in brand perception, awareness and sales. That's why like any brand aiming to further grow, Turkish Airlines is making significant investments in this area. One of the brand's priorities is to imagine new, more effective and targeted projects that can really make a difference, rather than simply throwing money into sponsorship, which is currently the tendency within the sector. As with various sponsorships across the world, Turkish Airlines is particularly focused on investing in sport. 

In 2013, Turkish Airlines teamed up with one of the best golfers in the world, Tiger Woods, to promote the "Turkish Airlines Open" tournament for the first time. Before this tournament, Tiger hit a golf ball from Europe to Asia across the iconic Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, a great feat not to be forgotten, catching the great attention of people across the globe. After the following years, the fifth Turkish Airlines Open took place in 2017, with many famous names taking part. Turkish Airlines Open, which will be held for the sixth time on 1-4 November 2018, will host many important names of the golf world again. 

Again in 2013, Turkish Airlines also started the "Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup", the first worldwide amateur golf tournament series. In its first year, the final of this tournament and the Turkish Airlines Open were both held in Antalya simultaneously. Finalists were given the chance to play in a Pro-Am with Tiger Woods and other golf stars. The tournament was held in 12 destinations in its first year, 50 in its second, and in 2015 it took place in 70 locations around the world. In just five years the tournament has grown rapidly, and last season it took place in 96 destinations. And in 2017 it organized in 100 destinations in 63 countries. 

We also added Rugby and the Super Bowl to our sponsorship portfolio, and opened doors to a whole new culture of sports lovers. Since Rugby is so popular in the UK, Europe and the Southern Hemisphere, Turkish Airlines decided to be the official partner of both the European Rugby Champions Cup and the European Rugby Challenge Cup since 2015, in order to reach the scores of fans of this sport branch. And the other new topic that we’ve canalized is The Super Bowl, the final of the American Football League, and the world's most-watched sporting event. Our sponsorship for this event started in 2016. Through our sponsorship broadcasts, we reached more than 118 million individuals at least once, in 2017. That means we were seen by 48% of households across the USA. This is an increase on the 38% achieved in 2016. 

Along with golf and rugby, we plan to make investments in sports and events which have the potential to appeal to corporate and business passengers, such as sailing and horse riding. The horse jumping event, CHIO Aachen, is just one of these. CHIO Aachen is one of the world's most prestigious equestrian events that includes races in five different categories. We have been a top-level sponsor to this organization since 2014. 

Alongside all of this, we continue to invest in first two of the world’s most popular sports, football and basketball. In football, our sponsorships of various national and international clubs are currently ongoing. In basketball, "Turkish Airlines EuroLeauge Basketball", one of the most prestigious basketball organizations in the world, and the “Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four” event, a key component of this sponsorship, constitute the most popular basketball sponsorships of Turkish Airlines. Last Final Four events took place with our partnership, at Belgrad/ Serbia, between 18th and 20st of May, 2018, which ended with the Spanish representative Real Madrid’ championship. Our partnership here is to maintain sponsorship and event promotion activities throughout the years that we will be in league with the EuroLeague Basketball. 

Our other major sponsorship includes the Turkish National Football Team, the Turkish National Basketball Team, the Turkish National Volleyball Team, Galatasaray SK, Trabzonspor, Başakşehir SK, Bursaspor, Cumhurbaşkanlığı Türkiye Bisiklet Turu, Turkish Airlines Ladies Open, Turkish Airlines Challenge and the Istanbul Marathon. 

We’ll keep supporting on various sports, as well as cultural and arts events in forthcoming years also. 

Another remarkable feature of Turkish Airlines is its transformation into a group of companies. Can you tell us a little more? 

With the goal of becoming a leader in global aviation, its talented workforce and successful subsidiaries have allowed Turkish Airlines to continue to strengthen its status as a global brand. 

While lowering costs through its subsidiaries, Turkish Airlines is able to provide flexibility and efficiency in its operations, and this also adds to its competitiveness and positive/strategic impact within the sector. Along with this, by providing services to other companies within the sector, each subsidiary adds to the shared value with being profitable in themselves. 

Turkish Airlines and its subsidiaries are comprised of a total of 20 companies, and together they seek to maintain Turkish Airlines' status as a leader within the aviation sector, and will continue to play a key role in collaborative projects that are set to contribute to the development of Turkish Civil Aviation Industry.

THY Group Companies		Foundation	Headquarter	Share Structure	Area of Operation
Passenger & Cargo Transport Group
	Güneş Ekspres Havacılık A.Ş.	October 1989	Antalya	%50 THY - %50 Lufthansa	Passenger & Cargo Transport
	Sun Express Deutschland GMBH	April 2011	Frankfurt	%50 Güneş Ekspres - %50 DLP Stiftung	Passenger & Cargo Transport
Maintenance & Repair (MRO) Group
	THY Teknik A.Ş.	May 2006	Atatürk Airport, İstanbul	% 100 THY	Aircraft - MRO
	Pratt&Whitney THY Teknik Uçak Motoru Bakım Mrkz. Ltd. Şti.	October 2008	Sabiha Gökçen Airport, İstanbul	%51 PW - %49 THY	Aircraft Engine - MRO
	Goodrich & THY Teknik Servis Merkezi Ltd. Şti.	October 2010	Gebze	%60 Goodrich - %40 THY Teknik	Thrust reverser & Nacelle - MRO
Aircraft Interior & Seat Production Group
	TCI Kabin içi Sistemleri San. ve Tic. A.Ş.	May 2011	Sabiha Gökçen Airport, İstanbul	%51 THY - %49 TAI	Aircrfat Interior Production & Trading
	Uçak Koltuk Üretim San. ve Tic. A.Ş.	September 2011	Sabiha Gökçen Airport, İstanbul	%50 THY - %50 Assan Hanil	Aircraft Seat Production & Trading
	TSI Incorporation	June 2014	Utah, ABD	% 100 Uçak Koltuk	Aircraft Seat Production & Trading
Support Services Group
	THY Opet Havacılık Yakıtları A.Ş.	September 2009	World Trade Center, İstanbul	%50 THY - %50 Opet	Aviation Fuels
	Kuzey Tankercilik A.Ş.	November 2012	World Trade Center, İstanbul	% 100 THY Opet	Sea Transport
	Güney Tankercilik A.Ş.	November 2012	World Trade Center, İstanbul	% 100 THY Opet	Sea Transport
	THY Do & Co İkram Hizmetleri A.Ş.	January 2007	Atatürk Airport, İstanbul	%50 THY - %50 Do&Co	Catering
	TGS Yer Hizmetleri A.Ş.	August 2008	World Trade Center, İstanbul	%50 THY - %50 Havaş	Ground Services
	THY Aydın Çıldır Havalimanı İşletme A.Ş.	June 2012	Aydın	%100 THY	Airport Manegement and Pilot Training
	Vergi İade Aracılık A.Ş.	September 2014	Beşiktaş, İstanbul	%30 THY - %45 Maslak Oto - %25 VK Holding	Tax Free Services
	THY Havaalanı Gayrimenkul Yatırım ve İşletme A.Ş.	November 2017	Atatürk Airport, İstanbul	% 100 THY	Airport Management and Investments

The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award and Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 19,000 daily flights to 1,250 airports in 195 countries. Further connecting flights are offered by Star Alliance Connecting Partner, Juneyao Airlines.

Further information is available via: www.staralliance.com, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Linkedin or Instagram.

Star Alliance in numbers

• Daily departures: +18,800
• Countries served: 193
• Airports served: 1,317
• Number of employees: 423,210
• Fleet: 4,919
• Lounges: +1,000

Star Alliance member airlines

Airline	Airline code	Membership date	Flight center
	A3	6/2010	Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Rhodes, Kalamata, Chania, Larnaca
	AC	5/1997	Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary
	CA	12/2007	Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu
	AI	7/2014	Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru & Hyderabad
	NZ	5/1999	Auckland, Los Angeles
	NH	10/1999	Tokyo-Narita, Tokyo-Haneda
	OZ	3/2003	Seoul – Incheon, Seoul – Gimpo
	OS	3/2000	Vienna
	AV	6/2012	Bogota, Colombia; San Salvador El Salvador; Lima Peru
	SN	12/2009	Brussels
	CM	6/2012	Panama’s Tocumen International Airport
	OU	12/2004	Zagreb
	MS	7/2008	Cairo
	ET	12/2011	Addis Ababa (main hub), Lomé (Togo), Lilongwe (Malawi), Liège (Belgium- cargo hub)
	BR	6/2013	Taipei
	LO	10/2003	Warsaw, Chopin, Airport
	LH	5/1997	Frankfurt am Main Munich
	SK	5/1997	Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm
	ZH	11/2012	Shenzhen, Guangzhou
	SQ	4/2000	Singapore, Changi
	SA	4/2006	Johannesburg
	LX	4/2006	Zurich, Geneva
	TP	3/2005	Lisbon
	TG	5/1997	Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok
	TK	4/2008	Istanbul, Ankara
	UA	5/1997	Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark San Francisco, Washington D.C. International; Tokyo Guam