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Tag: Turkish Airlines

  • Foreign brands bowl over India as IPL turns global advertising pitch

    Foreign brands bowl over India as IPL turns global advertising pitch

    MUMBAI: As the Tata IPL 2025 continues to bowl over audiences with record-breaking viewership, it’s not just the players on the pitch who are playing for high stakes. Global brands are stepping up to bat, making India’s biggest sporting spectacle their preferred launchpad for business growth and JioStar’s broadcast and digital platforms their prime ad real estate.

    Joining the international sponsor squad this season is Danube Properties, coming on board as a ‘co-powered by’ sponsor on Star Sports, and Lattafa Perfumes, which becomes the first international retail brand to advertise on JioStar’s cricket coverage. Their presence signals a wider trend: cricket is no longer just India’s game, it’s the world’s marketing playground.

    In recent seasons, JioStar has attracted heavyweights like Etihad, Emirates, Disney Cruise Line, DP World, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Tourism, and more. Sectors like real estate, aviation, and tourism have taken centre stage, capitalising on cricket’s pan-India reach and its increasing influence in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

    JioStar chief business officer for sports revenue SMB & creator Ishan Chatterjee said, “Cricket in India is no longer just a national obsession, it’s a global advertising stage. We’re seeing international brands increasingly turn to JioStar as a gateway to scale, status, and cultural relevance. These partnerships go beyond awareness; they’re delivering real business outcomes, from lead generation to brand affinity in one of the world’s most dynamic markets.”

    Danube Properties founder and chairman Rizwan Sajan said, “Danube Properties is thrilled to partner with Star Sports this year on the Tata IPL. India is one of the biggest markets for Danube Properties, and there isn’t a better medium than Star Sports and the Tata IPL to maximize our reach. The Tata IPL takes place during one of the busiest periods in our investment cycle for both commercial and residential properties and being able to reach that scale of high-net-worth individuals within just two months gives our business a significant boost. This association continues to be a key driver of investor interest, making it easier than ever to own a property in Dubai. It has been a truly impactful association, and we look forward to even greater success ahead.”

    Danube’s campaign is cleverly timed with one of their busiest investment cycles, tapping into IPL’s ability to deliver scale within just a few weeks.

    India’s evolution into a premium consumption hub has turbocharged this trend. It’s now one of the top five global source markets for airlines, a significant base of NRI property buyers, and a high-spending outbound tourism segment. For global brands, India is not just a pit stop, it’s the prize.

    And as JioStar transforms cricket coverage into a blend of sports and sophisticated storytelling, it’s offering more than just visibility,  it’s delivering leads, loyalty, and legacy. In the grand theatre of the IPL, it’s not just sixes that soar, so do global ambitions.

  • Ilker Ayci declines Tata Sons’ offer to be new Air India CEO

    Ilker Ayci declines Tata Sons’ offer to be new Air India CEO

    Mumbai: Former Turkish Airlines chairman Ilker Ayci has declined Air India’s MD and CEO offer, weeks after appointment. In a statement, Ayic said his appointment was ‘coloured’ by the Indian media, citing it as the reason to opt out.

    “I have come to the conclusion that it would not be a feasible or an honourable decision to accept the position in the shadow of such a narrative,” Ayci said in a statement on Tuesday.

    Ayci was seen as close to Turkish president Racep Tayyip Erdogan, a Pakistan ally. He used to be the personal advisor to Erdogan in 1994 and had served as the chairman of Turkish Airlines from 2015 till now.

    Former chairman of Turkish Airlines Ilker Ayci named Air India CEO

    Ayci said that at a recent meeting with Tata Group chairman Chadrasekaran, he ‘regretfully’ informed him that he will be declining the position.

    “As a business leader who has always prioritized professional credo and more importantly, the happiness and well being of my family above all else, I have come to the conclusion that it would not be a feasible or an honorable decision to accept the position in the shadow of such narrative,” he said.

  • Former chairman of Turkish Airlines Ilker Ayci named Air India CEO

    Former chairman of Turkish Airlines Ilker Ayci named Air India CEO

    New Delhi: Tata Sons on Monday announced the onboarding of former chairman of Turkish Airlines Ilker Ayci as chief executive officer and managing director of Air India. He will assume his responsibilities on or before 1 April, Tata Sons said.

    “The board after due deliberations approved the appointment of Ilker Ayci as the CEO & MD of Air India. This appointment is subject to requisite regulatory approvals,” Tata Sons said in a press statement.

    The Air India board met on Monday to approve the candidature of Ilker Ayci. Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran was a special invitee to this board meeting.

    “Ilker is an aviation industry leader who led Turkish Airlines to its current success during his tenure there. We are delighted to welcome Ilker to the Tata Group where he would lead Air India into the new era,” said N Chandrasekaran on Ayci’s appointment.

    Recently, Tata Group has officially taken over Air India from the government. Tata Sons is the holding company of the business conglomerate.

    “I am delighted and honored to accept the privilege of leading an iconic airline and to join the Tata Group,” Ayci said. “Working closely with my colleagues at Air India and the leadership of the Tata Group, we will utilise the strong heritage of Air India to make it one of the best airlines in the world with a uniquely superior flying experience that reflects Indian warmth and hospitality.”

  • Turkish Airlines launches new commercial ‘The Journey’ at Super Bowl LIII

    Turkish Airlines launches new commercial ‘The Journey’ at Super Bowl LIII

    MUMBAI: To mark the opening of Istanbul airport, its new home, Turkish Airlines teamed up with acclaimed filmmaker Ridley Scott to release a new commercial, ‘The Journey’, during the Super Bowl LIII on 3 February. A six-minute cinematic short film was simultaneously released on YouTube as well.

    It is Scott’s first commercial in 15 years and stars actresses Sylvia Hoeks and Aure Atika. It has been produced by RSA Films. ‘The Journey’ shows the story of a chase across the city’s iconic landmarks.

    Commenting on the campaign, Turkish Airlines chairman of the board and the executive committee M İlker Aycı said, “When viewers tuned into the Super Bowl on Sunday they were treated to a stunning portrayal of Istanbul in this thrilling film from Ridley Scott. We invite travelers around the world to join us on our journey and experience true Turkish hospitality at our brand new home at Istanbul airport.”

    Director and producer Ridley Scott said, “Istanbul is an inspiring city to build a story around with  its beautiful     topography surrounded by water. The city is a powerful backdrop to the story that brings together the main characters in an exciting and spectacular way, much as Istanbul has done for generations.”

    ‘THE JOURNEY’ showcases Istanbul as the hub of Turkish Airlines and the new center of aviation for global travelers, which will be the world’s largest aviation hub with an annual capacity of 200 million passengers. Flying to more countries than any other airline, Turkish Airlines currently connects 306 destinations in 124 countries, which will expand as it moves its hub from the current Istanbul Ataturk Airport to the newly opened Istanbul airport.

    Four promotional versions and a six-minute cinematic short film were created as well as a behind-the-scenes special that details the entire experience including interviews with the director and cast.

  • Lights, camera, action! Turkish Airlines launches new inflight safety video in partnership with Warner Bros. and The LEGO(R) Movie franchise.

    Lights, camera, action! Turkish Airlines launches new inflight safety video in partnership with Warner Bros. and The LEGO(R) Movie franchise.

    MUMBAI: Turkish Airlines, the airline that flies to more countries and international destinations than any other airline, launches a new animated safety video, complete with familiar LEGO® minifigures in surprising new roles.  The custom-animated safety video for Turkish Airlines was created by the teams who assembled “The LEGO Movie”, “The LEGO Batman Movie”, “The LEGO NINJAGO® Movie” and the highly anticipated sequel “The LEGO Movie 2” due in cinemas beginning February 2019, which reunites the heroes of the first film in an all new action-packed adventure. In partnership with Warner Bros. and featuring the popular characters from The LEGO Movie franchise, the safety video will be shown on all flights starting today and will also debut online.

    The safety video, which is the first LEGO safety video ever made, demonstrates step-by-step safety procedures to passengers in a fun, unique style – complete with sensible airline-approved humor, celebrity cameos and an unforgettable song and dance number. Turkish Airlines is proud to have one of the youngest fleets in the world and strives to achieve the best in aviation safety standards.  Whether frequent travellers or first-time fliers, the video aims to inform and entertain passengers, alongside an extensive selection of movies, TV shows, music and games available in different languages on the in-flight entertainment system. 

    The safety video will kick off the “biggest partnership with the smallest cast ever assembled”, hinting there is much more to come from the Turkish Airlines and LEGO Movie franchise alliance. Leading up to the worldwide release of “The LEGO Movie 2”, Turkish Airlines will roll-out a global TV campaign, film themed wrapped airplanes, in-flight and in-airport activations and even a second safety video. A partnership sure to entertain and delight!

    Blair Rich, President, Worldwide Marketing, Warner Bros. Pictures Group and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment said; “We are thrilled to be working with Turkish Airlines again and “widening their world” to include that of our colorful LEGO Movie universe.  The partnership showcases the best of two different brands converging in a clever and imaginative way, connecting to consumers and entertaining them.”

    The  LEGO Movie franchise-inspired safety video was brought to life by a 16-strong production team consisting of 2 concept artists, 3 layout artists, 7 animators and 4 lighting technicians. Lasting more than 950 days from beginning to end, the specialists used 2,938,840 LEGO bricks to animate the LEGO action. A total of 9,658,631 CPU hours (Central Processing Units) were used to generate 973 versions of animation. 30 different versions of the new safety video were created, both in English and Turkish, to cover the safety particulars of the 15 different airplane models in the Turkish Airlines fleet.

  • Europe Ladies Golf Tournament retains Turkish Airlines as main sponsor

    MUMBAI: For the fourth time, Turkish Airlines will be the main sponsor of the fifth Turkish Ladies Open to be held in Belek, Antalya, Turkey.

    The 2013 Ladies European Tour (LET) began in Australia in February and moves to Turkey from 9 – 12 May, being held for the fifth time at the National Golf Club in Belek, organised by Mineks International.

    The field consists of 126 professional women golf players from 31 countries.

    The Tournament will continue during the whole year and will move from Turkey to the countries such as Holland, Spain, Slovakia, Sweden, U.S.A, P.R.C, India, U.A.E, Scotland and France.

    One day prior to the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open tournament, there will be Turkish Airlines Ladies Open-Garanti Masters Pro-Am Tournament between teams of four that will include one professional and three amateur players, with many prominent amateurs as well as members of the business community participating.

    The annual tournament, supported by Turkish Airlines, has raised awareness of the sport in Turkey which continues to gain in popularity.

  • Turkish Airlines launches partnership with German soccer club Borussia Dortmund

    MUMBAI: Turkish Airlines has announced an agreement with BorussiaDortmund, champion in the 2010 and 2011 seasons of Germany‘s soccer league Bundesliga.

    On 2 May 2013, Turkish Airlines and Borussia Dortmund (BVB) will meet to sign a three year agreement.

    It represents a commitment for both sides and will involve joint activities and programs. Turkish Airlines will be the airline of choice for all BVB international flights. Turkish Airlines serves 12 German cities with roughly 250 flights a week. Then, from its hub in Istanbul, the airline offers connections that allow the team to travel across the world.

    Turkish Airlines says that it is a natural partner for Borussia Dortmund, combining excellence in sports with excellence in aviation and service. The football club meanwhile stands for tradition, regional identity, hard work and successs – all principles that Turkish Airlines also values and strives to exhibit.

    Turkish Airlines chairman Hamdi Topçu said, “We are excited to accompany Borussia Dortmund on its path towards success in the near future and are looking forward to a fruitful partnership.

    “Turkish Airlines and Borussia Dortmund share a similar success story. Dortmund has a very notable set of players, many of them young and successful. The company also invests heavily in talent building. Several of the Borussia Dortmund players are members of both the German and Turkish national teams.”

    Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said, “We are glad to have Turkish Airlines, a global brand as our partner. Turkish Airlines is a strong brand with obviously high quality and a first class service. We are looking forward to cooperate with Turkish Airlines and pleased, that they chose Borussia Dortmund as a strong partner to realize their goals.”

  • Argentine soccer star Messi is Turkish Airlines’ global brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: International soccer star Leo Messi was named Global Brand Ambassador for Turkish Airlines after signing the agreement in September 2012.

    The FC Barcelona forward joins the ranks of Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and professional tennis player Caroline Wozniacki who have been brand ambassadors since 2011 and 2010 respectively.

    Messi said, “I would like to thank to Turkish Airlines because it’s a great honor for me to be the brand ambassador of such a fast growing among the world’s biggest and Europe’s Best Airline company. I believe that by joining with a global network company such as Turkish Airlines, we will set to sign many more successful projects. As an Argentinian, I am happy Turkish Airlines is having another destination Buenos Aires from Istanbul.”

    Turkish Airlines Member of the Board, Ismail Gercek said, “We have held the title of Europe’s Best Airline now for two consecutive years and it makes perfect sense that we align ourselves with the best and most recognizable sports figures in the word. Signing a global sports star like Messi only solidifies our leading position as one of the world’s fastest growing airlines flying to a record number of countries across the globe.”

    In September 2012, Messi shot a commercial for the airline with Kobe Bryant. In the airlines’ latest commercial, the duo –competes to win the attention of a young boy. The latest commercial was a collaborative effort among producers, actors and crew members from Turkey, the Netherlands, Spain and the US. Shot partly at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport and partly in other countries abroad, the commercial will air worldwide late this year.

    In working with Leo Messi, Turkish Airlines will maintain a global focus promoting its award-winning service. Having been named Fifa Best Player in the last three seasons and currently being a finalist for this year’s Fifa player of the year, Messi’s visibility and worldwide popularity will be instrumental in helping Turkish Airlines reach new heights on a global scale.

    Aside from this recent announcement, Turkish Airlines has reached several milestones in recent months including adding the 200th aircraft to its growing fleet and flying to 92 countries, more than any other airline in the world.