Turkish Airlines

[Metro man]

I was thinking of flying Turkish Airlines on my recent holiday but chose Qatar Airways instead. Two days before I departed there was the bomb attack on Istanbul airport, three days after I got back there was a coup attempt. I doubt they will be on my list next year.

I can't help wondering that as both events were only two weeks apart, there must be a large number of passengers who were affected on both the outward and return legs of their trip.

Expect some cheap fares on Turkish Airlines in the near future.

[easyflyer83]

Used Turkish in between the IST attack and the attempted coup, returned Thursday evening. Used them last year too. Without this background, some very competitive fares and excellent service, particularly for what I paid. There are also some great J fares too.

These flights won't stop me flying TK again. I travel to Thailand quite a lot where there has been a couple of military coups, indeed the military currently run the country. As for the IST attack, well you just need to remain vigilant. As we have seen in recent days and months, these attacks aren't restricted to places like Turkey by any means and whilst a very sobering prospect, the French prime minister hit the nail on the head yesterday when he said that this is something that we are just going to have to learn to live with.

[Johnny F@rt Pants]

The reason that I'd avoid Turkish would primarily be their poor safety record over the last few years.

[Hotel Tango]

THY have expanded very rapidly over the past years and I do wonder to what degree this has affected training and promotions to the LHS.

[XSBaggage]

What makes you question their safety record over the "last few years"? I thought they were getting better recently. Was planning to book with them to go back to the UK next week but that has now sown a seed of doubt and makes me think Etihad or Aeroflot instead.

XSB

[Johnny F@rt Pants]

Plenty of incidents and close calls over the past few years to put them on my no fly list.

[Hotel Tango]

and, as I already said above, very rapid expansion of their fleet. From roughly 135 air frames 5 years ago to roughly 295 air frames today.

[XSBaggage]

Hmm....some stuff to think about there then. Mind you some of the Middle Eastern carriers have had rapid expansion too....

Thanks for the info.

[Hotel Tango]

Mind you some of the Middle Eastern carriers have had rapid expansion too....

Very true, as have the Chinese. However, the ME carriers draw from a worldwide pool of experienced pilots. I'm not sure that is the case with THY (perhaps someone can comment). I think that THY only recruit and train Turkish nationals.

[PAXboy]

I have considered all of the above recently when planning my next trip to South Africa. Friends have used them for many years and report their Biz class very good. A travel agent friend says they have had no complaints.

On the safety front - the most important - I have decided that I will make the trip with them. However, I do agree that the trend of carriers from the Eastern Med to the Far East is not good. So my last PPRuNe post could be from the lounge at LGW in November ... :}

[Johnny F@rt Pants]

I think that THY only recruit and train Turkish nationals

Not that I know of, as far as I know Turkish recruit via agencies from worldwide. I suspect that Turkey is a less desirable place to inhabit, and Turkish don't offer such a good package.