Turkish Airlines (THY) made its first flight to Afghanistan after almost 3 years. The plane was welcomed by officials from the Turkish Embassy in Kabul, representatives of Turkey’s institutions in Afghanistan and officials from the interim government of Afghanistan.
Turkish Airlines (THY) resumed its flights to Afghanistan nearly three years after it was suspended due to the change of administration in Afghanistan in August 2021. The first Turkish Airlines flight landed at Kabul International Airport and a ceremony was organized to celebrate this historic flight.
Officials from the Turkish Embassy in Kabul, representatives of Turkish institutions in Afghanistan and officials from the interim government of Afghanistan were present to welcome the plane. THY’s Istanbul-Kabil flights will now operate four times a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Welcome Ceremony
The welcoming ceremony held at Kabul International Airport was attended by Cenk Ünal, Chargé d’Affaires and Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Turkey in Kabul; Mahmut Yayla, Second Regional Head of Marketing and Sales of Turkish Airlines; Ümit Develi, Vice President for Asia-Far East of Turkish Airlines; Raif Asana, Director of Turkish Airlines Afghanistan; Fazıl Akın Erdoğan, Coordinator of the Kabul Office of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency; Hüseyin Güngör, Coordinator of the Turkish Cultural Center of the Yunus Emre Institute in Kabul; Ahmet Tukur, Country Representative of Turkish Maarif Foundation in Afghanistan; and Farid Ahmed Ziya, Head of Delegation of Turkish Red Crescent in Afghanistan.
Abdulsattar Harwal, Director General of Afghanistan Airports, Ghulam Jilani Wafa, Counselor of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Transportation of Afghanistan, Hasibullah Surush, Deputy Director of Civil Aviation of Afghanistan, Hafiz Siddiqullah Abdi, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Finance of Afghanistan, and Abdulhadi Muhammadi, Head of Kabul International Airport were also present at the ceremony. The ceremony was met with great interest by local and foreign press members.
“We are proud of the first flight”
In his speech at the ceremony, Cenk Ünal, Chargé d’Affaires and Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Turkey in Kabul, said that they were excited and proud to welcome the first Turkish Airlines passenger plane at Kabul International Airport after a gap of nearly three years. Stating that the friendly relations between the two countries are getting stronger every day on the basis of mutual trust and cooperation, Ünal said, “The start of Turkish Airlines flights is the clearest and clearest symbol of this trust. This new beginning heralds a new era for both our country and the Turkish Airlines family.” He also added that it is a great pleasure that this important flight takes place right after the May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day.
“We will be the Afghan People’s Gateway to the World”
Mahmut Yayla, Second Regional Head of Marketing and Sales of Turkish Airlines, emphasized the global success of Turkish Airlines and said that they will contribute to the development of commercial relations between Turkey and Afghanistan. “As Turkish Airlines, we are very pleased to connect the people of both countries and to carry Afghan citizens to the world with the airline that flies to the most countries in the world. With our modern fleet and competitive fares, we will be the gateway of Afghan citizens to the world.”
Satisfaction of Afghan Officials
Afghan officials expressed their satisfaction with the resumption of THY flights to Afghanistan and thanked Turkey and THY. Ghulam Jilani Vefa, Counselor of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Transportation of Afghanistan, said that these flights have resumed as a result of the great efforts of the authorities of both countries and that THY will create a competitive environment in Afghanistan. Abdulhadi Muhammadi, Head of Kabul International Airport, said that the resumption of THY flights is an indication of the security in Afghanistan and will set an example for other global airlines.
THY had stopped its flights to Afghanistan on August 15, 2021 due to the change of administration in the country.
