THY discusses its Star Alliance accession
Posted by meb at May 17th, 2007
The number of foreign passengers choosing Turkish Airlines increased due to the announcement related to the company’s participation in the international airways union Star Alliance
The accession process of Turkish Airlines (THY) into the international Star Alliance has helped to increase its number of foreign passengers. THY will join Star Alliance in 2008.
During the accession process THY’s first step was to collaborate with Lufthansa in Munich and Frankfurt based flights.
Those flights were “successful,” THY General Director Temel Kotil, responding to questions at the Star Alliance’s 10th Anniversary celebrations in Copenhagen on Tuesday.
Star Alliance is the largest and most awarded airline alliance in the world.Responding to questions on any possible negative effect in joining Star Alliance for THY, “Star Alliance members do not compete, they collaborate,” said Kotil. “THY is a strong company among other Star Alliance members. We have the strength to provide quality service,” he added.
“The number of foreigners choosing to fly with THY is increasing. That is proof that our brand value is increasing and that we have grabbed passengers from our competitors. For example, the occupancy rate of our flight to Copenhagen was 90 percent,” he said.
Increasing THY growth rate by 10 pct
Both the number of passengers and the growth rates of the companies that are members of the alliance increase, said Kotil. TAP Portugal Airlines grew 10 percent after becoming a member of the alliance, he added. “Thy which has an annual growth rate of 20 percent, will grow an additional 10 percent.”
THY has 200 flights each week, and flights to Germany forms 25 percent of its foreign market, said Kotil. The company target is to have same kind of a success in Italy, France and the United Kingdom flights
THY’s business also grew 40 percent in Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Denmark. Currently THY flies to those countries four times a week and it is looking to increase that number to seven.
Responding to a question related to THY’s decision to increase its fleet to 100 from 65 in just three years, “We have not grown just as a fleet,” he said. “Numbers of chairs and passenger also doubled. That is a very serious growth. No other member of Star Alliance managed to obtain such growth. That poses no problem. Because we have infrastructure,” Kotil added. “We are also growing in the Russian market. By increasing our fleet capacity, we are dropping ticket prices. And that is a great way of satisfying the customer,” said Kotil.
Kotil also announced the May 26 launch of THY’s flights to Batumi, and September 17 launch of flights to Johannesburg and Capetown.
“We are expecting 20 million passenger and $3.2 billion turnover in 2007,” said Kotil.
Star Alliance in numbers
Members: 17 airline firms and 3 regional carriers
Total turnover: $114.6 billion
Daily departures: 16,000
Countries served: 155
Airports served: 855
Annual passengers: 405.7 million
Employees: 351,761
Fleets: 2777
source:EBRU TUNCAY / KOPENHAG- Referans
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