Unrelated to everything else going on in the world, can I just dedicate a post to how Turkmenistan Airlines is probably the airline that I’d most love to fly. I just find the carrier to be incredibly intriguing.
Continue reading: I Want To Fly Fascinating Turkmenistan Airlines!
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I think Noel's video lists the Turkish website he booked his tickets on. I recently have seen Turkmenistan Airlines on Google Flights if that matters.
I just took a trip to Asia and actually planned to fly the FRA-ASB-BKK routing, as it was the cheapest option in economy at only 349 euro. My destination changed so I ended up flying China Southern but I was really curious to try Turkmenistan Airlines.
I visited this summer and loved it. It's definitely the most unique (for better or worse) place I've been, and the history is fascinating. Flew a domestic segment on their 737 and it was actually perfectly pleasant. A totally unremarkable flight (in a good way). Only one person in my group took the UK flight and he said it was fine/nothing to report on but obviously far from the greatest flight he's had.
Not sure what you're referring to with the abandoned airport in Ashgabat. It was quite busy both times I was there, and it's actually pretty nice (got a big makeover for the Asia Games a few years ago). Lots of gold and white marble, like the rest of Ashgabat. The city itself is a bit of a ghost town, but not the airport.
Lucky, if you click on "non-resident of Turkmenistan" just below the "to" and "from" fields on the site, it links you to a slicker web interface that seems to have been designed with foreigners in mind. change language from turkish to english and you'll be all set with a "normal" booking experience
I'm a bit surprised to read your take on your visit and that you loved the place, given that the country is just a somewhat more "chill" version of North Korea, where you are only shown what the government wants you to see. This is a totalitarian dictatorship where most fundamental rights are extremely limited, a cult of personality, a capital that is just for show with megalomaniac buildings (like their airport) and where actually very few people live. Isn't it unsettling to visit a place like this?
After seeing that video and reading those reviews, I wouldn't be rushing to book a ticket with them. When you put your safety in the hands of pilots, crew and mechanics you want to ensure they are professional, follow procedures and ensure your safety. Turkmenistan airlines looks like an accident waiting to happen.
Every travel blogger who goes to Turkmenistan says the same thing about the country, that it's the North Korea of Central Asia but that's a really lazy take and one that's used to register clicks because it's fairly well known in the vloggosphere that if you mention N Korea in the title you are going to get more views on your video. You are free to walk around the country wherever you want to go (you just have to go with a tour guide but from my experience they were flexible with my itinerary and wherever I wanted to go they allowed me to go). I know some Russian so was able to get around the country pretty easily.
I haven't flown Turkmenistan Airlines but in IST airport the airline has a ticket counter right next to some escalators that you can purchase tickets if you ever happen to be there. Otherwise like you said I have not seen an easy way to really purchase tickets with the airline.
The Birmingham (BHX) flights were interesting one - they flew to Amritsar on the other side from Ashgabat and timed the flights well, so carved out a niche for themselves pre-pandemic with the Indian community in the city. I'm guessing these were booked with local travel agents. Hence why you are seeing those reviews. My understanding is sometimes it was a mere formality getting off in Ashgabat from Birmingham, waiting at the gate, before continuing on the same plane to Amritsar.
I was in Turkmenistan just last week. I flew Turkish in, but I took a domestic flight on Turkmenistan Airlines while in the country. The airport was actually quite busy, even at 2am when I landed. Nothing like the videos I've seen posted on YouTube. Ashgabat city center does feel fairly deserted, but as soon as we traveled outside the main part of the city there were a lot of people. We did some sight seeing in Mary and that was really quite busy.
Looking back on my Turkmenistan Airlines flight I have to admit it was entirely unremarkable. Nothing about the flight was even memorable. It was a short flight, but service was fine, nothing was out of place as far as safety procedures.
As far as the country itself, I really enjoyed the entire trip. All the Turkmen people I met were quite personable and even wanted to chat me up. I must have had 40+ people asking to get selfies with me as I was walking around. I agree with another commenter here, it was certainly the most unique place I've ever visited.
This is a big part of why I travel - to see places for myself. The bloggers calling it a "chill North Korea" are off base. Don't get me wrong, it's absolutely a totalitarian regime and they are responsible for tons of humanitarian rights issues, especially towards journalists, but you cannot compare their oppression to North Korea's. From a touristic point of view, it's also completely different. We were free to wander around Ashgabat on own and did so numerous times. The culture is very Russian (Soviet), and we stumbled into a really fun party one evening that felt like I was back in Russia. The rest of the time there is with a guide at all times (though we had no issue walking around Turkmenbashi and Balkanabat on own too), but frankly there are so few things to see there that it doesn't at all come across as being a government driven tour. Our guide was also very open about politics and the (ridiculous) policies. Turkmen were very open once you get them talking - definitely nothing "cult" like you would experience in NK. The capital is a bizarre place with the megalomaniac buildings as you mention, but you can only laugh as they get more and more over-the-top. Yes, there are few people but we actually spent a chunk of an afternoon at a theme park and it was really busy and fun to see.
As for the trip and when I said "I loved it" - I was referring to the experience as a whole. Not the country itself, per se.
I booked and flew a Turkmenistan Airlines trip from LGW-ASB-KUL a few months ago. Short answer, it's not difficult, but also not a great experience. I posted a trip report on Flyertalk. Unless you can get into the country (ie. Transit visa!), I wouldn't bother.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/2163889-turkmenistan-airlines-ashgabat-transit-experience.html
Thanks for the additional insights! To clarify my "chill North Korea" comment, that doesn't stem from the bloggers, but from documentaries or investigation pieces I've read or watched in the past - including a very recent one. But I do really appreciate the first hand observations from you, very insightful and I have no doubt that bloggers or media would probably make some things look more dramatic than they really are.
Iberia and Air Europa has the same no-photo & no-filming policy. If you take a photo onboars IB or UX flight, crew will shout on you and will hand you to police on arrival. Castilia (core of Spain) is a Turkmenistan of Europe.
I've flown with Turkmenistan Airlines. The flights were entirely unremarkable, and I was able to take photos; no one cared. The "reviews" you quoted are a bunch of overly dramatized nonsense. Heck, for what it's worth, even flying Air Koryo internationally these days is pretty unremarkable, seeing that they no longer operate the ancient Tu-154 aircraft to/from Beijing.
What is true however is that Turkmenistan Airlines isn't customer focused. They don't need or want your business. They have no incentive to make booking easy. They cancel flights on a whim and don't proactively offer refunds. They'll kick you out should they need to accommodate any dignitary. And you sure aren't going to be able to fly to or through Turkmenistan unless you have a visa (which is notoriously difficult to get as a tourist.)
Turkmenistan Airlines exists primarily as a vanity government organization and for Turkmen people. The majority of foreigners who fly with Turkmenistan Airlines are in the natural gas business, on a business visa, and local partners make travel arrangements on their behalf.
With that said, if you want to visit Turkmenistan, I can put you in touch with folks who can help.... with the caveat that you're unlikely to get a visa as a blogger.
Hello, just to let you know if you click ",non resident of turkmenistan" on the website it redirects you to another site where you can book connecting flights. Sometimes its really affordable also.
I've flown with them a bunch of times in the past mostly internal ashgabat to turkmenbashi return but also once from birmhgham to ashgabat. Unremarkable is what I'd described it as. Ashgabat airport is something else articularly to view from airside.
I would recommend a visit to Ashgabat but make sure you,have a guide. The place is absolutely bizarre! It’s all white marble everywhere and even their bus stops look like a five star hotel (emphasis on looks). Though the carpet museum was interesting.
Has there ever been a case where someone who took pictures on Iberia or Air Europa and was arrested for that?
No?
Didn't think so.
Noel Philips does seem to have his whole business plan based on pushing the clickbait.
Ditto, I've only flown them on domestic flights, but it wasn't all that different than domestic flights on other airlines
I went with Atlas Obscura, it was very smooth and we saw a lot of the country beyond just Ashgabat and the gates of hell
As of last week, we were absolutely not allowed to walk wherever we wanted to go. My (mandatory) tour guide chaperoned us everywhere, including restaurants. I heard there was more wiggle room pre-covid but that was absolutely not my experience in October 2024.
Ben, I want you to fly with them so that we can have a point by point comparison with TAAG.
Is it some sort of a tradition of OMAAT audience to support authoritarian governments that violate human rights?
Now I wouldn't be surprised to see a North Korean propaganda here and audience agreeing with that.
Some, but not all, itineraries are bookable and ticketable via traditional travel agencies through the Hahn Air-169 plate. Traditional travel agencies can still do great work sometimes and should not be overlooked.
I served as a diplomat in Turkmenistan a little over a decade ago and flew Turkmenistan Airlines several times. A few of the passengers started their trips in Ashgabat but most passengers transited from other countries. For example, when we were flying to Bangkok for vacation, almost all of the passengers were Russians arriving from Moscow or St. Petersburg, while flights from the UK often connected with those going to India. The flights were always full and it seemed that the airline's target market was passengers looking for basic, inexpensive air transport. Airport facilities were rudimentary, and a paid lounge offered little more than more comfortable seating and the chance to purchase soft drinks and snacks.
I've booked them next month in Business Class. If you are interested, I can send you a few pictures after my trip.
Its clear that you didnt realize that for booking a flight at their website you need to choose first the non Turkmenistán resident option. And then the reservation process is so easy.
Just flew KL to Gatwick last week for 301 USD.Would absolutely do it again for that price. I'm doing a full debrief to our subscribers in our weekly newsletter and laying out our experience and the pros and cons.
TURKMENISTAN AIRLINES
I was advised while flying back to Gatwick last September 2024 while I was returning from Ashgabat, that 'In future I should book my special needs (vegan) meal in advance when paying for the tickets.'
This is both wrong and misleading.
Turkmenistan Airlines on its UK website has posted a separate window stating that they do not cater for any 'SPECIAL MEALS'... but 'apologise for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.' (?)
What am I to 'understand' about their logistics failure? Am I to assume they're not interested in me and don't care about my having food on a 6 hour flight?
During the round trip flights last year I was plied with dairy cheese, tomatoes, dairy butter, bread and cheese-biscuits, and tea/coffee with cow's milk sachets.
Evidently, being culturally Muslim but perhaps of limited education, the cabin staff didn't appear to know what a vegan diet is. However, there are vegan Muslims in this culturally diverse world and many Muslim-country airlines who serve vegans.
Paul,
Newhaven, East Sussex.