Military staff to be transported by THY

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

Turkish Airlines General Manager Hamdi Topçu has said the free-of-charge transportation of Turkish military personnel, a campaign that the airliner is planning to carry out together with the National Defense Ministry, would cover 350,000 to 400,000 soldiers.

Topçu was speaking while on a visit to the Domestic Lines VIP Hall at the recently renovated Atatürk Airport in Istanbul.

In response to questions from members of the press, Topçu said they had been holding talks with the Defense Ministry on the issue. “They informed us about the details of the project and we are now working on these details. We are developing a model. In the coming days we are planning to hold a meeting with officials from the Defense Ministry and in two weeks we will make an official statement,” he said, adding that they would be working on minimizing the costs of giving free transportation to soldiers.

Transportation free of charges

TAV Airports Holding Chairman Sani Şener, who was also present at the opening, said his company was also interested in providing support for free transportation projects. “The Ministry of Transport’s Maritime Affairs and Communication officials have contacted us. We will ask for no charges from our soldier passengers. We are taking commission from regular passengers, which is reflected on the ticket prices, but this regulation will not apply to soldiers.”

Turkish General Staff had ordered on Oct. 22 that the transportation of all military personnel from zones under security risks to be conducted by air, in an effort to avoid ambushes on military vehicle convoys traveling on roads by suspected members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).