Turkish Airlines Name Changes To Türkiye Hava Yolları

Turkey’s Supreme Leader, aka the president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has, in his great wisdom, decided that it is in his best interest to rebrand the country’s well-known Turkish Airlines as Türkiye Hava Yolları.

Turkey is on a publicity tour to have its name in English switched from Turkey (they don’t like to be associated with a bird) to Türkiye.

You can access Türkiye Hava Yolları website here.

Here’s an excerpt from the Aljazeera:

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the Turkish national carrier will rebrand as “Türkiye Hava Yolları” instead of “Turkish Airlines” as part of a push for his country to be known internationally as “Türkiye” instead of “Turkey”.

Erdogan’s government said on Tuesday the name “Türkiye” better represents Turkish culture and values. Some observers say the move is part of an effort to dissociate its name from the bird, the turkey.

“Turkey no longer exists. It is Türkiye,” Erdogan said during a ceremony marking the launch of a new communications satellite.

Conclusion

It is not uncommon for the country’s name in English to be different than in the local language, i.e., Finland is Suomi in Finnish, and Sweden is Sverige in Swedish.

I doubt that it is easier for non-Turks to visit Türkiye instead of Turkey or to fly on Türkiye Hava Yolları, which sounds like a Turkish sweet, instead of Turkish Airlines.

This is just an awful move.