Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines (Turkish: Türk Hava Yolları Anonim Ortaklığı) (ISE:THAYO.E) is the national flag carrier airline of Turkey, headquartered in the Turkish Airlines General Management Building on the grounds of Atatürk Airport in Yeşilköy, Bakirköy district, Istanbul. It operates scheduled services to 146 international and 41 domestic cities (38 domestic airports), serving a total of 187 airports, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The airline's main base is at Atatürk International Airport, with secondary hubs at Esenboğa International Airport, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, and Adnan Menderes Airport. In 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 THY carried 17 million, 19.7 million, 22.5 million, 25.1 million and 29 million passengers with total revenues of US$2.23, $3.0, $4.5, $4 and $5.6 billion, respectively.

During Skytrax's 2011 World Airline Awards ceremony, Turkish Airlines won Europe's Best Airline and Southern Europe's Best Airline awards, as well as the award for the world's Best Premium Economy Class Airline Seat. It is also 7th in the world's Best Airline ranking.

The airline has 18,188 employees (30 June 2011). THY has been a member of the Star Alliance network since 1 April 2008.

Turkish Airlines is currently an official sponsor of FC Barcelona, Manchester United F.C., Maroussi Basketball Club, Valencia Basket Club and the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball. The airline also has Kobe Bryant as its brand promotion ambassador and Caroline Wozniacki, the No. 1 female player in the 2010 and 2011 tennis season, has become the new face promoting Turkish Airlines Business Class and Comfort Class through 2013.

Other airline companies that are owned or co-owned by Turkish Airlines include AnadoluJet, North Cyprus Airlines, SunExpress and B&H Airlines. Turkish Airlines is in talks with JAT of Serbia to establish a new company to replace JAT Airways, which is in debt.

Early years
The airline was formed on 20 May 1933 as State Airlines Administration, part of the Ministry of Defence. The fleet was a five-seat Curtiss Kingbird, two four-seat Junkers F-13s and one ten-seat Tupolev ANT-9. In 1935 it became part of the Ministry of Public Works, in 1938 it moved to be part of the Ministry of Transportation and was renamed "General Directorate of State Airlines". In 1945 the first Douglas DC-3 joined the airline.

Postwar Period


Turkish Airlines (THY) inaugurated its first International services with the opening of the Ankara - Istanbul - Athens services in 1947.

The airline benefited from the postwar U.S. assistance program to Turkey. With the help of Pan American, the fleet was upgraded with Douglas DC-3s.THY soon added to the route network were Nicosia, Cyprus; Beirut, Lebanon; and Cairo, Egypt. Domestic service remained the airline's focus until the 1960s, however.

The Turkish government reorganized the airline in 1956 under the name Türk Hava Yollari A.O. (THY). It was capitalized at TRL 60 million. British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) began supplying technical support after acquiring a 6 percent shareholding,which it held for about 20 years.

The fleet was upgraded with Viscounts and Fokker F27s in the late 1950s. The company began operating its first jet, a DC-9, in 1967. This was followed by the addition of a leased Boeing 707 in 1971. Other jets operated in the early 1970s included the DC-10 and Boeing 727.

1980s and 1990s


Unfortunately, the airline was plagued by several difficult issues. It developed a reputation for poor customer service and delays. It also endured hijackings and suffered seven accidents between 1974 and 1983, noted Air Transport World.

However, a new government came to power in 1983 which recognized THY's importance as Turkey's ambassador to the world, beginning the airline's make-over into a modern operation. It would maintain one of the youngest fleets in the world. Security was intensified, causing one shipper to compare it to Israel's El Al, at least in terms of delays.

THY built a new, state-of-the-art technical center at Yesilkoy Airport in 1984. It was capable of both light and heavy maintenance on a number of different aircraft type. Technical staff then made up one-quarter of the airline's 6,000 employees, according to Air Transport World. n 1984, the company's capital was raised to TRL 60 billion as it was classified as a state economic enterprise. Three years later, the capital was raised again, to TL150 billion.

By the mid-1980s, THY had a fleet of 30 aircraft. It was flying about three million passengers a year to 16 domestic destinations and three dozen international ones. The airline was Turkey's largest source of foreign currency, according to Air Transport World. Turkish Airlines operating Airbus 310s in 1985, allowing the addition of flights to Singapore in 1986. A route to Brussels and New York was added in 1988.

The company posted losses in 1987 and 1988, largely due to high payments on its dozen new Airbus A310s, according to Air Transport World. The fleet also included 11 Boeing 727s and nine DC-9s. THY ended the decade with 8,500 employees.

The company suffered in the global aviation crisis following the Persian Gulf War and would not break even again until 1994. However, business was again booming in the mid-1990s, with the greatest growth coming from North American destinations. THY launched a nonstop to New York in July 1994.

The company's capital continued to be raised, reaching TRL 10 trillion in 1995. During that year, the airline also converted three of its Boeing 727s to dedicated freighters. (The old DC-9s had been sold off.) The company posted a $6 million profit on revenues of $1 billion for the year. While profitable, THY had to contend with Turkey's exorbitant inflation, making capital improvements difficult.

The domestic market was deregulated in 1996, allowing new scheduled competition from charter airlines. At the same time, larger international carriers were providing stiff competition on routes to Western Europe. THY entered into marketing agreements with other international airlines to enhance its competitiveness. The company teamed with Japan Airlines to offer service to Osaka and Tokyo in 1997 and 1998. Other jointly operated flights soon followed with Austrian Airlines, Swissair, and Croatian Airlines.

2000s


A new terminal opened for the airline in January 2000 at Istanbul's Atatürk International Airport. Turkish Airlines continued to extend its international reach, forging marketing agreements with Asiana Airlines (Seoul, Korea), American Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Czech Airlines, and Cathay Pacific Airlines (Hong Kong) in 2000. An Antalya-Frankfurt route was added in 2001 through a code-sharing agreement with Sun Express. However, THY withdrew from the Swissair-led Qualiflyer Alliance in order to help attract a strategic investor for its privatization.

Turkey underwent an economic crisis throughout most of 2001, cutting traffic on domestic routes in particular. THY managed to survive after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States without a government bailout or mass layoffs, although 300 middle management positions were eliminated, 400 part-timers were laid off, and wages were cut 10 percent. Turkish Daily News credited the airline's survival to entrepreneurial management, which was quick to get rid of loss-making routes at home and abroad.

In 2003, the war in Iraq prompted Turkish Airlines to close some routes in the Persian Gulf, while flights to Asia were suspended during the SARS epidemic. However, the airline soon recovered, increasing traffic on existing routes and adding service to India (New Delhi) after an 11-year lapse.



Another fleet expansion program kicked off in 2004, helping THY maintain one of the youngest fleets in Europe. In July, the airline announced a massive $2.8 billion order of 36 jets from Airbus, plus an order for 15 Boeing 737s.

THY was not just ordering new planes. It was planning to spend $350 million on a new technical and training facility at Istanbul's underutilized Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, reported Air Transport World. The airline had built up a significant technical services operation, maintaining not just its own aircraft but those of third parties. Turkish Technic employed 2,700 and was planning to hire another 2,000 by 2010. THY also had three flight simulators and offered flight training services.

THY faced the entry of new competitors into the liberalizing Turkish aviation market. However, tourism was booming, with 20 million people expected to visit the country in 2005 versus 12 million in 2003. THY divested its 50 percent holding in Cyprus Turkish Airlines (Kibris Turk Hava Yollari) in 2005.

Although the company was publicly traded at this time, the government owned 98 percent of shares. The privatization program was revived in 2004 with a public offering of 20 percent of shares on the Istanbul Stock Exchange. The Turkish government owned 75 percent of shares after the offering, which raised $170 million. Currently, the Republic of Turkey's Prime Ministry Privatization Administration owns a 49.12% interest in THY, while 50.88% of shares are publicly traded.

THY's financial statements should be read in light of a new currency created in January 2005. One New Turkish Lira (YTL) is equivalent to one million of the former Turkish Lira (TRL).

Codeshare agreements
Turkish Airlines has codeshare agreements with the following airlines (* indicates fellow Star Alliance members) at December 2011:


 * Air China *
 * Air India
 * Air Malta
 * Aerosvit
 * All Nippon Airways *
 * Asiana Airlines *
 * Austrian Airlines *
 * B&H Airlines
 * Croatia Airlines *
 * EgyptAir *


 * Ethiopian Airlines *
 * Etihad Airways
 * Garuda Indonesia
 * LOT Polish Airlines *
 * Lufthansa *
 * Malaysia Airlines
 * Pakistan International Airlines
 * Royal Air Maroc
 * Singapore Airlines *
 * Swiss International Airlines*


 * Syrian Air
 * TAM Airlines *
 * TAP Portugal *
 * Tatarstan Airlines
 * Thai Airways International *
 * United Airlines *
 * US Airways *
 * UTair Aviation



Fleet
As of December 2011, the Turkish Airlines fleet (including AnadoluJet) consists of 174 passenger and 6 cargo aircraft with an average age of 6.8 years.



Fleet expansion
On 14 October 2008, Turkish Airlines issued one of the world's largest commercial aircraft purchase tenders. The tender which has since been extended to 17 December 2008, is for the purchase of 105 planes valued at US $6 billion. This will include a firm order for 25 wide-body, long-haul planes and 50 narrow-body, medium-haul aircraft. It would also place options for 10 wide-body and 20 narrow-body aircraft. Turkish Airlines has already announced orders for 24 wide-body aircraft and 40 narrow-body aircraft, plus 25 options for narrow-body aircraft. The first Boeing 777-300ER of the new order is delivered to Turkish Airlines on 13.10.2010.

Livery
The airline's "Eurowhite" livery is a white fuselage with blue lettering, a grey tulip on the fuselage running from the rear of the wing to the tail, and a red tail with the company logo in a white circle. In the past, the airplanes were painted white on the top with four red stripes going across the fuselage and the tail white with a red center that included the emblem; instead of a white emblem with a red circle for a background, the emblem was red with a white circle as background; the bellies of the planes had an aluminum finish, while the nose was black, and text on the plane read "THY Türk Hava Yolları-Turkish Airlines" on the left side; on the right the concept was the same with different text reading "Türk Hava Yolları-Turkish Airlines THY".

New logo


The logo on the fin has been modified; the main change being that the emblem is now white and on a red background, while it was formerly red and on a white background.

The inscription "Turkish" has been replaced with "Turkish Airlines" on the front-left and front-right sides of the fuselage.

The "Eurowhite" livery (a white fuselage with blue lettering) and a grey tulip figure on the fuselage (running from the rear of the wing to the tail) have remained the same.

Turkish Airlines Flight Academy
Turkish Airlines Flight Academy is founded by 28th THY Board’s order on 10 November 2004. THY Flight Academy started training with 16 cadets on 1 May 2006. Flight Academy based at İstanbul Atatürk Airport and uses nearby Çorlu Airport for training activities.

Maintenance center
The airlines has a maintenance centre at its hub Atatürk International Airport (IST) in Istanbul. Turkish Airlines Maintenance Center (Turkish Technic) is responsible for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of THY's and third party aircraft, engines and components.

Turkish Technic has opened a new engine center in partnership with Pratt & Whitney at Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW). The facility provides engine maintenance, repair and overhaul services to customers worldwide.

Affinity programs
Miles&Smiles is the frequent flyer program of Turkish Airlines, started after the airline left Qualiflyer. The earned miles can be used in Turkish Airlines's flights, as well as flights on Lufthansa, including the entire Star Alliance network. Miles&Smiles Classic Plus card holders are entitled to the same benefits of Star Alliance Silver card members. Elite and Elite Plus Miles&Smiles Cards entile the owner to the same benefits as Star Alliance Gold users.

Incidents and accidents
During its 75-year history, Turkish Airlines has had three accidents on its international flights and 18 on domestic flights. They include the following:


 * On 8 March 1962, Fairchild F27 TC-KOP crashed at Taurus Mountains on approach to Adana Airport. All three crew and eight passengers on board were killed.


 * On 2 February 1969, Vickers Viscount TC-SET crashed on approach to Esenboğa International Airport, Ankara. There were no casualties.


 * On 16 September 1969, a Vickers Viscount was hijacked and landed in Sofia, Bulgaria.


 * On 26 January 1974, Fokker F28 Fellowship 1000 (registered TC-JAO and named Van) on a scheduled domestic flight from Izmir Cumaovası Airport (IZM) to Istanbul Yeşilköy Airport (IST/LTBA) crashed shortly after takeoff due to atmospheric icing on the wings. The aircraft disintegrated and caught fire killing four of the five crew and 62 of the 68 passengers on board.


 * On 3 March 1974, Flight 981 crashed in France due to explosive decompression, killing all 346 people aboard. The main cause was a design fault on the cargo doors of DC-10 aircraft, registered TC-JAV and named Ankara. Prior to the Tenerife airport disaster, it was the deadliest aircraft disaster in the world.


 * On 30 January 1975, Flight 345, a Fokker F28-1000 Fellowship (registered TC-JAP and named Bursa) on a scheduled domestic flight from Izmir Cumaovası Airport (IZM) to Istanbul Yeşilköy Airport (IST/LTBA) crashed into the Sea of Marmara during its final approach at the destination airport and sank. All the four crew and 38 passengers on board the aircraft lost their lives.


 * On 19 September 1976, Flight 452, a Boeing 727-2F2 (registration TC-JBH, named Antalya) on a domestic flight from Istanbul Yeşilköy Airport (IST/LTBA) to Antalya Airport (AYT/LTAI) struck high ground in Karatepe Mountains during an attempted landing in Isparta instead of Antalya by pilot error. All the eight crew and 146 passeners on board were killed.


 * On 23 December 1979, a Fokker F28 Fellowship 1000 (registration TC-JAT, named Trabzon) on a scheduled domestic flight from Samsun Airport (SSX/LTAQ) to Esenboğa Airport (ESB/LTAC) in Ankara struck a hill in Kuyumcuköy village at Çubuk, 32 km (20 mi) north-east of the destination airport in severe turbulence on approach to landing. Three of the four crew and 38 of the 41 passengers on board were killed.


 * On 16 January 1983, Flight 158, a Boeing 727-2F2 (registration TC-JBR, named Afyon) landed about 50 m (160 ft) short of the runway at Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB/LTAC) in driving snow, broke up and caught fire. 47 passengers died, all of the seven crew and 13 passengers survived the accident with injuries.


 * On 29 December 1994, Flight 278, a Boeing 737-4Y0 (registration: TC-JES, named Mersin) crashed during its final approach to land at Van Ferit Melen Airport (VAN/LTCI) in driving snow. Five of the seven crew and 52 of the 69 passengers died.


 * On 7 April 1999, Flight 5904, a Boeing 737-4Q8 (registration TC-JEP, named Trakya) on a repositioning flight crashed in Ceyhan eight minutes after taking off from Adana Şakirpaşa Airport (ADA/LTAF). There were no passengers on board, but all six crew members died in the accident.


 * On 8 January 2003, Flight 634, an Avro RJ-100 (registration: TC-THG, named Konya) crashed while on a VOR/DME approach to runway 34 at Diyarbakir Airport (DIY/LTCC), Turkey. 75 of the 80 passengers and crew died.


 * On 25 February 2009, Flight 1951, a Boeing 737–800 (registration: TC-JGE, named Tekirdağ) carrying 135 passengers, crashed while approaching Schiphol Airport, Netherlands. Nine people died, including the three pilots. 86 passengers were transported to local hospitals. The preliminary results of the Dutch investigation found that a faulty altimeter caused the aircraft to throttle the engines back to idle and that the crew failed to react quickly enough resulting in a stall and crash. Boeing advised operators of all 737 aircraft to carefully monitor primary flight instruments and not to engage autopilot/throttle systems during approach and landing in event of a radio altimeter malfunction.


 * On 5 January 2011, an attempt was made to hijack Flight 1754 from Gardermoen Airport, Oslo to Ataturk International Airport, Istanbul. The hijacker was overpowered by other passengers on the flight and was arrested when the aircraft landed. The flight was being operated by Boeing 737-800 TC-JGZ.