The results of the 2016 Air Transport News Awards were announced: Success for Turkish Companies!

As the only international prizes that award all the main categories of the air transport industry, the 2016 Air Transport News Awards Ceremony took place in Mozart Residence, Salzburg. Turkish Airlines and its sub-brands were again among the winners. Turkish Airlines has been awarded "Airline of The Year". Turkish Cargo won “Cargo Airline of the Year” award and Turkish Technic won “MRO Company of the Year” award in 2016 Air Transport News Awards. Operated by TAV Airports, Istanbul Ataturk Airport won the “Airport of the Year” award in 2016 Air Transport News Awards.

İlker Ayci, Chairman of the Board and the Executive Comittee Turkish Airlines stated as follow for the “Airline of the Year Award”: “As the Turkish Airlines network grows every day by offering more and more services, the satisfaction of our guests is still our first priority. We have succeeded a significant rise by increasing the number of our passengers from 10.3 million (in 2002) to nearly 62 million last year. With a total of 285 flight destinations to 113 countries, we became the airline that flies to the most countries in the world. In 2016, we anticipate carrying 72 million passengers. Our fleet has reached 308 today; one of the youngest fleets in Europe. We will continue to grow by purchasing new airplanes and adding new destinations to our global flight network. Turkish Airlines has been awarded the Best Airline Europe by Skytrax for five years in a row. In 2023, we aim to increase our number of passengers from nearly 60 million to 120 million, and our number of aircrafts from 300 to more than 450. With the completion of the new airport in Istanbul, Turkish Airlines will achieve a much different momentum.

İlker Ayci, Chairman of the Board and the Executive Comittee Turkish Airlines stated as follow for the “Cargo Airline of the Year Award”: “Turkish Cargo as a sub-brand of Turkish Airlines, utilizing its flight network and fleet along with its own freighters, has become one of the fastest growing players in the global air cargo industry. Turkish Cargo achieved 18% yearly average growth over the past decade. Turkish Cargo increased its cargo and mail volume to 720.000 tons in 2015 and aims to be in “The League of Millions” in terms of cargo carried. With the existing fleet structure, cargo services to 61 cargo destinations are on offer besides 284 destinations with passengers aircraft. Today, Turkish Cargo carries cargo and mails to more countries than any other airline and has the widest international network. Turkish Cargo continues its investments without deceleration like the new cargo terminal in Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Turkish Cargo will have 150,000 m2 enclosed area in the new airport in Istanbul. Turkish Cargo is strongly committed to increasing its service quality day by day and promoting Istanbul to become a global logistics centre.” 

TAV Airports President and CEO Sani Şener remarked: “Customer satisfaction lays at the core of all our operations since the establishment of TAV. We closely follow the needs and demands of our passengers and provide solutions accordingly. The products and services that we innovate are employed at 70 airports in 17 countries. Istanbul Atatürk Airport was the third busiest airport of Europe surpassing London and Paris by providing services to 61.3 million passengers last year. During this process there have been comprehensive developments at Istanbul Ataturk in order to provide an enhanced passenger experience. We have renovated and redesigned the duty-free and F&B spaces as to comply with the passenger flow at the terminals. Biometric passport control was introduced. Our accessibility program was selected as a best-practice at the UN. Consequently, we have been awarded the ASQ award for the airport with the most increase in service quality, a direct appreciation of our passengers. As soon as the additional facility, which is about to be completed at the international terminal, opens into service, Ataturk Airport will be ready to serve around 75-80 million passengers annually. We thank all our stakeholders, especially the General Directorate of State Airports Authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Turkish Airlines and all our employees who contributed to this success.”

Ahmet Karaman, CEO of Turkish Airlines Technic said “On behalf of Turkish Technic, I am honoured to receive such an iconic award, "MRO Company of the Year" from a jury of distinguished experts in the aviation industry. This award records that Turkish Technic is the world’s new rising brand of MRO business.”  

Dr Kostas Iatrou, Managing Director of Air Transport News stated: “I am pleased and honoured by the fact that Air Transport News Awards have become one of the most important awards in the air transport industry and this year were hosted in this exceptional place. These awards present the commitment of Air Transport News to recognize the achievements of the best companies, leaders and practices in the air transportation. I would like to thank Stiftung Mozarteum Salzburg that kindly offered the venue, UATP for the partnership, the jury of experts and our readers” 

The Chairperson of the jury for ATN Awards 2016 was Jeff Poole, Director General, CANSO. The other members of the jury were Bob Aaronson, ex Director General, ACI, Raymond Benjamin, ex Secretary General, ICAO , Dr. Pierre Coutu, Program Executive, AMPAP, Ralph Kaiser, CEO, UATP, Simon McNamara, Director General, ERA and Dr. Charles E. Schlumberger, Lead Air Transport Specialist, World Bank.