In a ceremony held in Istanbul, Turkish Airlines today - April 1 2008 - became the 20th airline company member of the Star Alliance. With this enrolment customers are now offered more than 31 destinations of their choice, especially in Turkey, Central Asia and the Middle East, thus benefitting from the wider range of options always on offer from the Star Alliance Network.  Altogether, the most experienced airline company alliance in the world now offers its customers 18 thousand daily flights to 965 airports in 162 countries.

“With Turkish Airlines we have gained a new member company with its own strong market based in one of the economies with the fastest rates of growth in the world. As well as this, we can now offer the benefits of the Star Alliance to a wider number of new passengers and at the same time simplify our customers’ trips to many of the new emerging markets in Central Asia and the Middle East”, stated Jaan Albrecht, Star Alliance CEO.

Turkish Airlines is already one of the fasting growing airline transport companies in Europe (with an increase in passenger numbers of the order of 23.5 percent according to AEA – The Association of European Airlines) and benefits from a strategic position between Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Ternel Kotil, CEO of the Turkish company commented: “This year Turkish Airlines celebrates its 75th anniversary and integration with the Alliance is an important step in guaranteeing the future of the company based on the advantage of making the bridge between Europe and Asia via its hub in Istanbul and in this way adding value to the Star Alliance network.”

Turkish Airlines has already decided on the direction of its expansion in terms of network and fleet.  At the end of the year the company plans to begin operations to 11 new destinations and take delivery of 22 more aircraft which will come to further improve the services on offer provided by the Star Alliance network.

Candan Karlitekin, Chairman of Turkish Airlines, said: “Enrolment in Star Alliance is a decisive step in Turkish Airlines becoming a global company and playing a decisive role in the panorama of world aviation. With this goal, we have improved our in-house criteria in order to offer a world-class service to the 493 million passengers that travel with the Star Alliance network each year."

Alliance customer benefits now offered by Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines can now offer a wide range of Star Alliance benefits which includes among others:

- Baggage check-in and dispatch from the airport of origin on trips that involve more than one Alliance member-company;

- Total reciprocity for Frequent Flyers. All Miles & Smiles Program Members from Turkish Airlines can now earn and convert air-miles for all Star Alliance companies;

- Star Alliance Gold Status for Miles & Smiles Elite and Elite Plus levels. These customers now have access to a wide range of Alliance benefits including access to more than 790 lounges in airports around the world, extra baggage transport, priority baggage drop-off, exclusive check-in desks and priority on waiting lists (in bookings) and at airports.

- Star Alliance Silver Status for Miles & Smiles Classic Plus levels. These customers now have the right to priority in booking waiting lists and at airports.

- Turkish Airlines now sells the 11 Star Alliance Ticket Tariff products which include among others the very popular Round the World Fare, as well as the (North American and European Air passes);

- Turkish Airlines will also take part in Star Alliance Corporate Plus and Convention Plus products.