Selim Özturk is Western India's General Manager of Turkish Airlines. He shares with us his views on India, Turkey and the airline which brings them together.

How long have you been the General Manager of Western India for Turkish Airlines? What has been your overall experience of India?
I have been in Mumbai for nearly 8 months. India is very rich in terms of people and beauty. It deserves to be explored and appreciated at length. It is very difficult to discover its treasures in a short time. I am very happy to have the opportunity to experience India. Mumbai is very much like Istanbul. Bothare cosmopolitan and commercial centres. I have been to Bangalore, Kolkata and Delhi. They are also vast cities with so much to offer. First on my agenda, however, is discovering more of Mumbai. Of course I would like to visit Goa, Kerala and Kashmir as well.Along with welcoming people and breathtaking scenery, India and Turkey share a significant amount of history and culture. Our languages have similarities as well. We share hundreds, if not thousands, of words.

Kindly give us a brief overview of Turkish Airlines.
Turkish Airlines (THY) is the national airline of Turkey. It is headquartered in Istanbul at Atatürk International Airport. Istanbul is a city at the centre of the world. It links Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. It is an excellent hub.THY operates a network of scheduled services to 107 international and 32 domestic cities, serving a total of 139 airports, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the United States. The airline has around 12000 employees.

What are some of the heavily frequented destinations of Turkish Airlines and what role does the Indian traveller have in these?
Our geographical location allows extensive accessibility to countries of Europe and the Middle East. We also have a significant presence in Africa. In the Americas we are currently operating in two cities, New York City and Chicago. We will soon start operations in Toronto, Washington D.C. and Sao Paulo. The majority of Indian travellers I find are England-bound. We operate to London and Manchester . As the tourism market continues to surge, travel is slowly spreading to other parts of the world as well.

What is the frequency of operation out of India?
We currently operate three flights weekly from here (Mumbai) to Istanbul and four flights weekly from Delhi. We are planning to increase the frequency for both cities to five flights weekly. In a few years we also plan to begin operations in other Indian cities.

How long has Turkish Airlines been operating in India and what has been the overall growth?
Turkish Airlines began its Indian operations in Delhi at Indira Gandhi International Airport five years ago. We have operated in Mumbai at Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport since May 2006. We have increased our occupancy rate nearly 30% as compared to the previous year. The growth has been encouraging. Our aircrafts are currently running at full occupancy so we are upgrading to newer, larger aircrafts to increase capacity. Once our order comes through, we will also increase our flight frequency.

Turkish Airlines became an official member of Star Alliance on April 1, 2008. What are the added benefits to passengers now that THY is a member of this alliance?
Star Alliance is the largest and most awarded airline alliance providing many points of cooperation among its partner airlines. These benefits include the integration of frequent flyer programmes, which allow airline miles to be earned and redeemed with all members of the Alliance; access to all lounges by premium customers; coordination of flight schedules to permit travel with different carriers on a single ticket; special fares and discounts; and harmonized customer service processes.

What are the popular destinations in Turkey for the Indian leisure traveller?
Istanbul is one of the most important tourist destinations in Turkey. It has a number of key attractions derived from its profound historical status as capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. These include the Sultanhmet Mosque (the "Blue Mosque"), the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace, the Basilica Cistern, the Dolmabahce Palace, the Galata Tower, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, and the Hotel Pera Palas. Istanbul has also recently became one of the largest shopping destinations in the world by hosting malls and shopping centres like Metrocity, Akmerkez and Cevahir Mall, which is the biggest mall in Europe and seventh largest shopping centre in the world. The city is full of museums and cultural events too.Beach vacations are also popular amongst foreign tourists. Most beach resorts are located along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts near Antalya, which is accepted as the tourism capital of Turkey. Major resort towns include Bodrum, Fethiye, Marmaris, Kusadasi, Cesme, Didim and Alanya.Other major cultural and historical attractions include the sites of Troy, Ephesus, House of Virgin Mary, Church of Antioch and the ruined cities and landscapes of Cappadocia. Ankara, although not exactly a tourist city, is a usual stop for travellers who go to Cappadocia. The city enjoys an excellent cultural life. The Anitkabir is in Ankara. It is the mausoleum of Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey.During the summer months the Princes' Islands are popular destinations for day trips from Istanbul. As there is no traffic on the Islands, the only transport being horse and carriage, they are incredibly peaceful compared to the city of Istanbul.

What are the popular destinations for different types of travellers?
I feel every part of Turkey is worth visiting. They each have their own charms and beauties. We have four seasons in a year. Some travellers prefer winter tourism destinations such as Bursa. In spring, summer and autumn tourists usually prefer the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts like Antalya, Marmaris, Izmir and Bodrum. The most lush and fertile area is the northern region of Turkey on the Black Sea coast. Istanbul is very rich in terms of religious activity. You can find people of every religion and culture there, as well as mosques, churches, temples and synagogues. In Antalya there are world class golf courses. Also river rafting and other adventure sports are becoming very popular in Anatolia. It is possible to scuba dive to ship wreck sites from World War I in Gallipoli. As Turkey borders four seas, it is not surprising that sailing is becoming increasingly popular. In recent years Turkey has also become a popular destination for spa and health care tourism.Incentive and corporate tours can be arranged and catered specifically to your tastes in collaboration with local agencies.

Istanbul is known for staging the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Turkey. What are some other sporting events in Turkey that can attract international interest?
Football is the most popular sport in Turkey. It has seen a rapid transformation earning it third place in the coveted 2002 FIFA World Cup. The domestic league has also gained prominence as teams have gone on to win European titles.


Turkey and India are in the midst of strengthening their trade relationship. What are the common trade and commerce centres in Turkey?

Istanbul, being an international junction of land and sea trade routes, is the chief centre of the Turkish economy. Many of the country's major manufacturing plants are located within the city. Izmir is Turkey's second largest port and a major industrial and tourism centre. Adana is the main industrial centre of the south. The modern city of Bursa is a manufacturing centre for textiles. Gaziantep, in the southeast of Turkey, is an emerging industrial city.

Lastly, what is your message to the readers
There are many things to say about the blossoming relationship between India and Turkey. I would like to encourage people to discover the true beauty of India, Turkey and the rest of the world. With Turkish Airlines the journey will be as enjoyable as the destination.

 

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