Turkish Airlines Celebrates 25 Years of Non-stop Flights to the United States

Turkish Airlines, the airline that flies to more countries than any other in the world, celebrated 25 years of non-stop service to the United States, last month at the Metropolitan Club, one of New York City's most exclusive and prestigious clubs since its founding in 1891.

Turkish Airlines started flying from Istanbul to New York City in 1988 but inaugurated its first US non-stop service to and from John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1994.

Co-hosted in partnership with Elite Traveler, the event celebrated the airline's quarter-century milestone and was attended by more than 200 guests, including: His Excellency, Ambassador Feridun Sinirlioglu, Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations; Honorable Alper Aktaş, Consul General of Turkey in New York; Mustafa Dogan, Vice President of Sales the Americas, Turkish Airlines; Cenk Öcal, General Manager of New York, Turkish Airlines; Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams; Martha Stewart; representatives of the diplomatic corps in New York, along with business leaders, travel agencies, corporate partners and media.

"Our core mission is – and has always been – to bridge continents, connect countries, and unite communities. Having a centrally-located hub between the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa, Istanbul provides excellent connectivity, allowing us to increase our passenger numbers consistently" stated Cenk Öcal, Turkish Airlines New York General Manager. "We are extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish here in the United States over the last 25 years, especially considering the airline's humble beginnings. Great success requires the hard work and collaborative partnership of great people, and we're proud of what Turkish Airlines has achieved over the last quarter century in here."

Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed fine Turkish dishes, bites from a raw bar, Turkish delights, baklava, and Turkish coffee and tea flown in for the occasion. A live band provided entertainment for the duration of the evening, and representatives from Royce New York, who monogrammed Turkish Airlines-branded luggage tags and passport holders for guests, were also on site.

A 25^th-anniversary cake presentation and raffle prizes including certificates, business class tickets and stays at several luxury hotels in Turkey ended the celebration on a sweet note.

Attendees went home with gift bags filled with a Turkish tea and coffee set, a luxe leather business card holder from Hennessy and the latest issue of Elite Traveler featuring Turkish Airlines and Istanbul.

Today, in North America, Turkish Airlines currently has 11 gateway cities including Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Houston, Miami, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto, Montreal, and New York. Mexico City and Cancun will launch on August 21st this year.

This year, Turkish Airlines also celebrated its 86^th anniversary as an airline and moved all operations to the new Istanbul Airport. The new airport will be the largest airport by passenger traffic upon completion and is home to five Turkish Airlines lounges available for Business Class, Miles & Smiles Elite Plus& Elite, Star Alliance Gold and Corporate Club passengers.