Turkish Airlines' Istanbul spot airs during Super Bowl

By Muhammed Ali Gurtas

ANKARA

A mini-movie spotlighting Istanbul by Turkey's national flag carrier through the lens of famed director Ridley Scott was aired during the American Super Bowl on Sunday.

As the first Turkish brand to advertise at the Super Bowl -- which every year tops U.S. TV ratings -- Turkish Airlines has been delighting audiences with its inspiring, original commercials since 2016, said a statement by the air carrier.

The 30-second "Journey" commercial was featured during "the most-watched sporting event on the global calendar amongst a lineup of some of the world’s most recognizable brands,” said Turkish Airlines, adding that that a six-minute version of the spot was simultaneously posted on its dedicated YouTube channel.

“When viewers tuned into the Super Bowl on Sunday they were treated to a stunning portrayal of Istanbul in this thrilling film from Ridley Scott," said Ilker Ayci, Turkish Airlines’ chairman.

The movie features iconic Istanbul locations and monuments including the Ortakoy district, Bosphorus, Ciragan Palace, and Galata Tower as well as cultural treasures like Turkish coffee.

"We invite travelers around the world to join us on our journey and experience true Turkish hospitality at our brand-new home, Istanbul Airport," Ayci added.

- $11B new Istanbul Airport

Istanbul Airport, whose first phase officially opened last Oct. 29 -- the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic -- once completed represents a €10.3 billion ($11.6 billion) investment.

At full capacity -- with the completion of all four phases with six runways -- Istanbul Airport is set to become a global aviation hub hosting more than 100 airlines and flights to over 300 destinations around the world.

Producer-director Ridley Scott said of the “Journey” TV ad -- the first one he has shot in 15 years -- “Istanbul is an inspiring city to build a story around with its beautiful topography surrounded by water."

"The city is a powerful backdrop to the story that brings together the main characters in an exciting and spectacular way, much as Istanbul has done for generations," he added.

“Journey showcases Istanbul as the hub of Turkish Airlines and the new center of aviation for global travelers, which will be the world’s largest aviation hub with an annual capacity of 200 million passengers,” said the airline.

"Flying to more countries than any other airline, Turkish Airlines currently connects 306 destinations in 124 countries, which will expand as it moves its hub from the current Istanbul Ataturk Airport to the newly opened Istanbul Airport," it said.

Turkish Airlines, founded in 1933, carried 75.2 million passengers last year, with a seat occupancy rate of 82 percent.

The airline was named Best Airline in Europe by Skytrax for six years in a row between 2011 and 2016, and was chosen the Best Airline in Southern Europe for the ninth consecutive time in 2017.

This year, the company aims to carry 47 million passengers on international routes.

Last August Turkish Airlines made a splash with its “Lego Movie” version of its in-flight safety video.