Turkish Airlines continues its efforts to help those affected by the devastating earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş and the surrounding cities of Kilis, Diyarbakır, Adana, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Malatya, Şanlıurfa, Adıyaman and Hatay.
Coordinating with official organizations such as AFAD (Ministry of Interior Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency) and Turkish Red Crescent, the flag carrier ensured all search and rescue teams and aid materials were delivered to impacted communities and is continuing to evacuate those affected with free evacuation flights during the crisis. Turkish Airlines carried 238,112 search and rescue personnel on 1,324 aid flights, while evacuating 230,980 citizens from the earthquake area on 1,302 evacuation flights.
Continuing its operations in coordination with AFAD and Türkiye missions, embassies, and consulates around the world to, Turkish Airlines delivered 15,648 tons of aid material free of charge to areas impacted by the earthquake including food, medicine, clothing, generators, hygiene kits, tents. 6,198 tons of the cargo were carried with flights conducted from 77 countries, while the remaining 9,450 tons were from Türkiye.
Turkish Airlines’ 249 personnel were volunteers in the area, assisting with search and rescue operations and delivering humanitarian aid. Members of the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) team from Turkish Airlines Flight Academy in Aydın also participated n the rescue operations in İskenderun.
Commenting on the aid efforts, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat stated: “With the responsibility of being the national flag carrier, we are working with all officials including AFAD to mend the wounds caused by the earthquake as the 75 thousand strong Turkish Airlines family. Within that framework we will be building a Turkish Airlines neighborhood in the region with 1000 homes for those affected by the earthquake. We will also employ 1000 thousand personnel from 1000 families affected by the earthquake in the Turkish Airlines and its subsidiaries. During these times where we come together as one in the face of natural disaster, Turkish Airlines also donated 2 billion TL while I personally donated my salary of March 2023 for immediate aid efforts. We also wish to extend our gratitude to our friends from abroad for their overwhelming support and aid in response to the crisis along with our missions, embassies, and consulates for their coordination in order to deliver aid material from other countries to the affected region with our cargo flights. Our flag carrier will continue to be with our citizens in the future just like it has been with all of its capabilities.”
Turkish Technic and other subsidiaries participated in aid efforts.
Thousands of personnel from Turkish Technic and other subsidiaries contributed to the aid and rescue operations. Groups with first aid and immediate treatment experience went to earthquake areas to participate in the search and rescue efforts. Groups with psychologists offered psychosocial support for the citizens affected by the earthquake. Organizing an aid campaign to transfer to AFAD, Turkish Technic collected approximately 2.3 million TL in the first 5 hours after the earthquake.
Our pets were also remembered
Waiving the vaccination card requirement within this process, Turkish Airlines also carried the pets of the citizens from earthquake affected areas without any charge. The flag carrier also sent carrying cases to its stations so that pets can be easily boarded on the aircraft.
Free of charge flights are continuing
Turkish Airlines has offered free ticketing and reservations since 7 February, and is also accepting citizens without reservations depending on the aircraft.
