Turkish Airlines is the national airline of Turkey. Atatürk International Airport (IST), Istanbul is the Turkish airline's main hub, with secondary hubs at Esenboga International Airport (ESB), Ankara, and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW), Istanbul. The mission of Turkish Airlines is to provide air transportation with the objective of strengthening the company's position as a global airline by expanding its long-distance flight network, maintaining the Company's leading position in domestic air transportation, making Istanbul an important hub, etc. Turkish airlines was founded in the year 1933 under the name "State Airlines Administration". The name of the airline was changed to 'General Directorate of State Airlines' and its operational control shifted to Ministry of Transportation from Ministry of Public Works.
The first international flight of Turkish Airlines was carried out in 1947 from Ankara to Athens. Turkish Airlines currently flies to over 140 destinations around the world. In India, Turkish Airlines flies to major metro cities.
As Turkey’s flag-carrier, the mission of Turkish Airlines is to provide air transportation services within the context of the many objectives including ‘strengthening the Company’s position as a global airline by expanding its long-distance flight network; positioning the Company as a technical service provider by transforming its maintenance unit into a leading maintenance base in the region; promoting the Company’s identity as a service provider in all areas of strategic civil aviation, including handling and flight training’.
