Name: Fatma Yuceler
Title: General manager, Western USA
Company, city: Turkish Airlines, Los Angeles, Calif.
Number of employees: 15,000-plus; 20 in Los Angeles
Recent project: Working on a corporate travel agreement with businesses in the United States
First job: Turkish Airlines part time while studying at university
Little-known fact about you: I am a workaholic.
YOUR BUSINESS
Essential business philosophy: Be organized and work as hard as possible. I always try to do my best and maintain a balance between work and home.
Best way to keep a competitive edge: Follow trends. That is one way Turkish Airlines has become one of the fastest-growing companies. It is also important to price competitively and offer unique, quality services.
Yardstick of success: For the second year in a row (2011 and 2012), Skytrax awarded Turkish Airlines Best Airline in Europe. Other recent awards were for our premium-economy cabin, service and food.
AS A TRAVELER
What is the most important item you take when traveling? My iPhone, to stay connected to work and family
How do you spend your time on board? If there is onboard WiFi, I prefer to work.
What is your favorite restaurant in the world? Kös¸ebas¸i, an Istanbul kebab restaurant
What is your favorite destination in the world? Any tropical island
ABOUT YOUR BRAND
What does Turkish Airlines offer business travelers? At the top of the list is comfort, with our fully flat seats and an onboard chef. We also offer WiFi in flight on our New York City and Los Angeles routes. As a member of Star Alliance, we offer access to the entire network and reciprocal advantages with our Miles&Smiles and TTC Corporate Club programs.
What can travelers expect from Turkish Airlines in the future? We are adding more exciting destinations worldwide to our route map, including Africa, Iran, Yemen and Luxembourg. We added more than 30 destinations in 2012 and look forward to launching service from Houston in 2013. We are adding new airplanes and expanding our fleet, with the aim of achieving 5-star airline ranking in the future.
What is the most challenging aspect to thriving in the North American market? To thrive, it is essential to focus on expanding. In less than a year, our flights from Los Angeles went from four times weekly to daily. We will open future routes to Houston and Washington, D.C. We offer a better premium economy than other airlines. Our seat is modeled after the old-style business-class seats, with meal service and an entertainment system. The safety, comfort, unique service and traditional Turkish hospitality associated with our airline help us thrive as well.
Read This Next
All Reads on This Topic
Read Them All
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Mar 29, 20234 Spring Hotel Openings
With the start of spring, travelers have their choice of new design-centric boutique properties opening in the coming months. Check out these properties for travel inspiration.
eFlyer Reviews
Mar 29, 2023Elk Cove Inn & Spa Review
Mendocino County is a self-contained universe of effortless, California-centric joy enveloped within the Redwood Forest National and State Parks, the rocky Pacific Coast and several prime wine production areas like Anderson Valley. If Highway 1 and Route 128 are the ribbons holding this package together, Elk Cove Inn & Spa can be considered the bow. Mendocino Coast’s first vacation destination, established in 1968, is an ideal 16-room gateway to the destination.
eFlyer News
Mar 29, 2023YOTEL to Open YOTELPAD London Stratford in Late 2023
YOTEL recently announced plans to open YOTELPAD London Stratford at the end of this year, making it the seventh YOTEL property in the United Kingdom and third in London, joining YOTEL London City and YOTEL London Shoreditch. YOTEL currently features properties in the United States and United Kingdom, with hotels in Boston, New York, San Francisco and, more recently, Washington, D.C.
Sponsored Content
Exclusive Savings: Cruise Along the Danube River with Global Traveler
Exclusive Sailing with Global Traveler
eFlyer News
Mar 29, 2023Puerto Rico’s Hotel El Convento Unveils Multimillion-Dollar Renovation
Hotel El Convento, one of Old San Juan’s most popular landmark hotels, recently completed a multimillion-dollar design and architectural renovation to its 81 rooms. The renovation blends Old World charm with Puerto Rico’s vibrant and modern energy.
Last-Minute Spring Deals from SIXT
eFlyer Deals
Mar 29, 2023Daily
Mar 29, 2023Set Sail on a California River Cruise with American Cruise Lines
Love small-ship cruising and the California coast? You’re in luck: American Cruise Lines offers an eight-day San Francisco Bay excursion, taking in some of the best wine country in the United States. The itinerary for American Jazz — one of 10 new riverboats in American Cruise Lines fleet — includes ports in San Francisco, Stockton, Sacramento and Vallejo. Sailing time takes in San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay and the Napa and San Joaquin rivers. American Jazz reaches the California Coast following a repositioning journey from Mississippi, including a transit through the Panama Canal.
Sponsored Content
Enter to Win $500 and Get Six Months’ Free Access to the New GT App
Now through May 8, sign up for a free six-month trial of the Global Traveler app and be automatically entered for a chance to win a $500 gift card of your choice for Amazon, Apple or American Express.
Daily
Mar 28, 2023Recaro Aircraft Seating CL670 Business-Class Seat Takes Off on Iberia
Recaro’s new CL6720 business-class seat with doors took off recently on Iberia’s Airbus A350 cabin, flying Madrid (MAD) to Buenos Aires (EZE), with a total of 31 of the seats in the aircraft’s business-class cabin. The premium-economy and economy cabins also feature Recaro seats.
ShareThis