ISTANBUL
A total of 42 foreign pilots out of more than 700 have resigned from Turkish national carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) since the beginning of the year. The pilots reportedly quit on the grounds that they face decreasing pay, as they are paid in Turkish lira, which lost 25 percent of its value against the dollar over the past year. As a result, they applied to Qatar Airways, which pays salaries in dollars. The airline company has increased the number of foreign pilots working in is fleet. THY, which employs foreign pilots from all over the world, recently recruited pilots in its Moscow office. The carrier is set to recruit 4,000 pilots by 2021 as a part of its growth objectives.
THY is holding road shows both at home and abroad to satisfy its pilot requirements and to promote the benefits it will offer to prospective staff. The company has a goal of training 500 pilots a year at the Turkish Airlines Flight Training Academy, which was founded in 2005. Aside from its events in Moscow, THY will continue to hold introductory meetings in Europe and Gulf countries in the upcoming days.