Turkish Airlines (Turkish: Türk Hava Yolları), or legally Türk Hava Yolları Anonim Ortaklığı,<[6] is the flag carrier of Turkey.<r As of June 2024, it operates scheduled services to 352 destinations (including cargo) in Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Americas.<r[7] The airline serves more destinations non-stop from a single airport than any other airline in the world<r[8] and flies to 131 countries, more than any other airline.<r[7]<r[9]<r[10]<r[11]<r[12] With an operational fleet of 24 cargo aircraft, the airline's cargo division Turkish Cargo serves 82 destinations.<r[13] The airline also owns a low-cost subsidiary, AJet.
The airline's corporate headquarters are on the grounds of Atatürk Airport in Yeşilköy, Bakırköy, Istanbul.<r[14] The airline's main base is Istanbul Airport in Arnavutköy.<r[15] It has been a member of the Star Alliance network since 1 April 2008.<r[16]
History
Early years
Turkish Airlines was established on 20 May 1933 as Turkish State Airlines (Turkish: Devlet Hava Yolları)<r[17] as a department of the Ministry of National Defense.<r[18] The airline's initial fleet consisted of two five-seat Curtiss Kingbirds, two four-seat Junkers F 13s and one ten-seat Tupolev ANT-9.<r[18] In 1935, the airline was turned over to the Ministry of Public Works and was subsequently renamed General Directorate of State Airlines. Three years later, in 1938, it became part of the Ministry of Transportation.<r[19]
Postwar period
Corporate affairs
The airline head office is in the Turkish Airlines General Management Building at Istanbul Atatürk Airport in Yeşilköy, Bakırköy.<re[56]
Key people
On 26 January 2022, İlker Aycı resigned from his position as chairman of the airline.<ref[57] During the board meeting the next day, Ahmet Bolat was elected to become the new chairman. [58] Bilal Ekşi holds the deputy chairman and CEO positions. [59]
Fleet
As of May 2024, Turkish Airlines operates a fleet of 407 aircraft,<ref n[107] consisting of 13 passenger aircraft types.<ref n[108] The airline started operations in 1933 with five aircraft, which grew to 52 in 1945 after the addition of Douglas DC-3s used in the Second World War. {[109] The first wide-body Douglas DC-10 was added in 1972. The airline made major changes to its fleet development in the late-1980s, when the first Airbus A310 arrived, and the Airbus A340 was ordered. The first Boeing 737 arrived a few years later. {{[110] Three Boeing 777-300s were leased in 2008, {{C[111] In 2013, the airline ordered almost 200 aircraft. {{Ci[112]
Sponsorship and promotion agreements
Turkish Airlines has been the official carrier of several European football clubs such as Galatasaray, Manchester United, {{cite[120] Borussia Dortmund, {{cite[121] Olympique de Marseille, {{cite[122] FK Sarajevo, {{cite[123]
The airline has also made sponsorship and promotion deals with renowned athletes and actors, including {{cite[124] Kobe Bryant,<ref name="
Accidents and incidents
In its history, Turkish Airlines has suffered a total of 19 incidents and accidents of which 15 were fatal. A total of 68 crew, 835 passengers and 35 people on the ground have been killed. <ref name="Tt[155]
- On 17 February 1959, a Vickers Viscount Type 793, registration TC-SEV, operating a charter flight carrying Turkish Prime Minister Adnan Menderes and a governmental delegation to London for the signing of the London-Zürich Agreements, crashed in dense fog on approach to London Gatwick Airport. Nine of the sixteen passengers and five of the eight crew lost their lives. Adnan Menderes, who was sitting in the back part of the aircraft, survived the accident. {{cite w[139]
- On 8 March 1962, a Fairchild F-27, registration TC-KOP, crashed into the Taurus Mountains on approach to Adana Şakirpaşa Airport. All three crew and all eight passengers on board died. {{cite w[140]
External links
References
- Türk Hava Yolları THY Destek Hizmetleri A.Ş'yi KAP'a bildirdi Dunya, 22 February 2023, retrieved 1 March 2023^
- Board Activity Report Turkishairlines.com, 30 September 2019, retrieved 26 November 2019^
- Our Story