THY hopeful of bright future with Star Alliance membership
Posted by meb at April 1st, 2008
Turkish Airlines (THY) General Manager Temel Kotil has said the airline’s membership in the Star Alliance has ensured that his company will have a bright future in the aviation business.
A reception was held yesterday at the Airport Hotel in İstanbul to celebrate THY’s membership in the Star Alliance, a deal considered the most important one made in the 45-year history of Turkish aviation. Kotil, THY Chairman Candan Karlıtekin and the CEOs of Star Alliance member airlines were present at the ceremony.
Kotil, who spoke at the reception, noted that THY will derive significant benefits from its membership in the Star Alliance. “We now have a company which can set out for the oceans. An ‘ocean’ means world aviation for us,” he said.
Recalling that the Star Alliance is the largest and most award-winning such alliance in the world, Kotil said THY had finalized its membership in the alliance in 16 months.
“We are delighted to have completed our membership process. We exerted our utmost efforts throughout this process. We believe that THY will be the bridge of aviation in Turkey thanks to this alliance,” he stressed.
Kotil said his company’s membership in the Star Alliance would increase THY’s profitability and passenger numbers.
When asked whether THY planes will bear the Star Alliance emblem, Kotil said: “Four THY planes will bear this emblem, and transit flights will be conducted via these planes. I believe this deal will benefit both parties. THY has a bright future.”
Karlıtekin, on the other hand, said THY has taken its place among prominent members of the Star Alliance with this deal. “We are very proud. I would like to extend my thanks to THY employees and the Turkish nation. THY’s excellence has finally been validated. We have been accredited worldwide,” she noted.
Star Alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht, meanwhile, said his group has gained a new member with the agreement. “We believe that we have seized a significant opportunity to reach out to new places in the world. We will, for sure, gain a greater share in the world aviation business,” he added.
The Star Alliance is seen as the most important conglomerate in the world aviation business and includes major brands such as Lufthansa, United Airlines, US Airways, Air Canada, SAS, All Nippon Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Swissair and Air China.
THY customers will be able to earn airline miles and use them with any member airline company at the same level — with the exception of certain deeply discounted classes. In addition, a premium customer of any of the member companies of the alliance will have access to the airport lounges of all member airlines. Also, flight schedules will be coordinated to permit almost seamless travel that may include several different carriers within the alliance on a single ticket. Furthermore, special fares for round-the-world and multi-stop travel will be available from the members of the alliance at a reduced cost. The members also enjoy cooperation in development of a common information technology platform.
THY will become the second largest airline company in the alliance after Lufthansa. It is expecting to increase its number of transit passengers by 50 percent to 1.5 million while also planning to boost the number of total passengers to 23.5 million by the end of this year.
source: Today’s Zaman
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