Turkish Airlines to be renamed as 'Türkiye Hava Yolları,' says Erdoğan
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has announced that Turkey's national air carrier THY will use the name of “Türkiye Hava Yolları” on its planes from now on, instead of “Turkish Airlines.”
Duvar English
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said that Turkish Airlines (THY) planes will from now on bear the name of “Türkiye Hava Yolları,” in an attempt to promote the use of “Türkiye” instead of “Turkey.”
“We have taken a symbolic important step by converting the name of 'Turkey' used in the international arena to 'Türkiye.' There is no more 'Turkey,' but 'Türkiye.' From now on, we won't write 'Turkish Airlines' on our planes' fuselages, but instead 'Türkiye Hava Yolları,'” Erdoğan said during an opening ceremony in the capital Ankara on June 14.
The United Nations confirmed earlier this month that it had accepted Turkey's request that the country's official name be changed to “Türkiye.”
“Türkiye” is how the country’s name is pronounced in Turkish. The move is seen as part of a push by Turkey to separate itself from the turkey bird and to increase its “brand value.”