ISTANBUL, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye's flag carrier, Turkish Airlines (THY), is the country's most valuable brand, contributing 56 billion U.S. dollars to the national economy in 2023, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.
In a video speech sent to THY's management summit in Istanbul, Erdogan said, "Turkish Airlines is not only Türkiye's most valuable brand but has also made a name for itself with its contributions to our country's economy."
"According to 2023 figures, Turkish Airlines has contributed 56 billion dollars to the Turkish economy and has strengthened its leadership in this field with service exports of around 16 billion dollars," he stated.
The Turkish leader also noted that the company's success gives a boost to the tourism sector and is one of the most important driving forces in increasing the number of tourists traveling to Türkiye.
The number of foreign tourists to Türkiye surged to over 51 million in the first 11 months of 2023, according to the latest official data.
Ahmet Bolat, chairman of THY's board of directors and executive committee, said at the summit that THY flew to 345 points around the world last year, carrying 83.4 million travelers, and its target for 2024 is to reach 92.5 million passengers while increasing the destination number to 350.
Having 440 aircraft in its fleet, THY ranked the third in the world according to available seat kilometers, according to Bolat. ■
