This isn’t a good look for Turkish Airlines, but this also likely isn’t the first or last time that we’ll see something like this at the airline, as flagged by PYOK. Perhaps what’s wildest is the the airline even has a policy of banning people for saying negative things, so I guess the airline is…
Continue reading: Turkish Airlines Bans Journalist For Damaging Brand Image, Cites Rules
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This is indicative of Turkey's shift from it's founding secularism to re-Islamization. Erdogan is an authoritarian, who jails his political opponents (free İmamoğlu!), and, apparently, does not respect free speech or journalism. Turkish Airlines is owned (50%), and thus, controlled, by its government.
Hate Josh all you want, and clearly Qatar Airways does... especially after his "The Shocking Decline of Qatar Airways" video. LOL. At least he didn't take the 'bribe' (free return flight to anywhere in the world if he would delete the video.)
Ben, where are things at with Josh; you guys still beefin'?
Pardon, QR's new CEO Al Meer supposedly lifted their ban of Josh... (late 2025). Whatever.
I guess, at least Turkish isn't using any pretext here... unlike, Qatar, which hid behind 'unauthorized filming' or 'safety' for its silly bans, Turkish just lets-it-rip with the real-reason, admitting, it's because you criticized us. So, they're front-stabbers, not back-stabbers!
Amazing how you can just replace a few words and the context remains.
"This is indicative of US shift from it's founding secularism to christian nationalism. tRump is an authoritarian, who is trying to jail his political opponents, and, apparently, does not respect free speech or journalism."
Your online name tells me you're a tragic political junkie who simply wants to talk politics when everyone else is here for aviation topics. You're the sort of person who would bring up politics in a forum dedicated to growing tulips, or knitting sweaters. Free advice: Get a life and lay off politics.
Turkish Airlines has always been vastly over-rated. Having travelled with them the service is detached, uninterested and at times, just rude. Just because you have global ambitions to fly everywhere, doesn't mean you should. Russians are propping up their passenger numbers, along with other fellow-traveller regimes...
Nah, John, politics is inherent in aviation and travel, because it deals with the movement of people, resources, power, culture, etc. So, no need to gatekeep. Let SadStateofOurNation and anyone else (Trumpers included) say whatever they wanna say. After all, this story was literally about an airline and its country trying to censor others by banning them… c’mon.
You got it. Turkey, the country, because of its authoritarian leader, Erdogan, is trying playing both sides, enabling wealthy Russians to evade sanctions. A lot of those types like to be in Istanbul, Dubai, Phuket, Bali, Maldives, Vietnam, or Sri Lanka, if those places let them, to avoid conscription and ‘ride out the war.’ The thing is… it’s taking years and years…
That said, TK’s a350 (some of which was supposed to go to Aeroflot, ironically, as it still has the orange and blue interior) and its 787 in business class are nice passenger experiences; their lounges and the new airport are impressive at IST; they do have an expansive network. They do have some aging 777 and 330 that could be better. Otherwise, the airline is alright; no where near the level of ME3.
Yup. Never forget. Then again, Turkey didn’t literally do it, but, it did happen there.
I have and others I know have had a pleasant experience on Turkish. This said mostly I think if the airline has to publish and take action on a statement like that then they know they are not at their best.
After the reading the title, I thought this article was about drama boy Josh Cahil.
You know bribes results in dishonesty.
Josh doesn't even need bribes to be dishonest. That's how corrupt.
So naive of you 1990.
The issue isn't not taking QR offer but the QR offer wasn't high enough.
Imagine offering Josh unlimited Qsuites for life. He would probably suck Tim Dunn's herring boner as a free extra.
How could you possibly blame Turkey for something that happens (allegedly) inside another nation's embassy? Also remember that a lot of people didn't like that gentleman.
Had a similar message from Turkish, when I mentioned (as a journalist that time) Turkish Airlines in a European gay magazine, as an airline that flies to a certain destination covered in a travel article. They were quite... unhappy being mentioned and banned me for a few months.
That's so silly. Shame on Turkish Airlines for banning you then. I'm sure you're well aware of this... but for others, ironically, homosexuality is not officially banned in Turkey; consensual same-sex relations between adults have been legal in Turkey since 1858. However, there is no same-sex marriage or civil unions. Gay men are exempt from compulsory military service; if they serve, it's a 'don't ask, don't tell' equivalent. The late 2025 judicial reforms pushed by Erdogan seek to re-criminalize. Turkey has banned and suppressed Pride marches, alleging 'public morality.' And, there are no protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Basically, it's increasingly hostile, and looks more like the Putin-playbook than anything else.
Josh is a journalist? I'd've gone with 'vlogger' but these are self-described titles anyway.
Good point, TrumpGambit, you can murder whoever you want as long as its in your embassy. /s
Ah, sorry, TrumpGambit, that's too silly; you did a good job parroting the official Trump party-line on Khashoggi's murder, in which our President basically cow-tows to MBS/KSA. And, I get it, we, for now, seem to prefer them over Iran's dictatorship, so... tough choices, all-around.
The Turkish people aren't the problem here, and doing the Rwanda-1994-equivalent of calling them insects isn't the 'way' I'd approach this, like, at all. Rather, it's their increasingly authoritarian President, Erdogan, and his regime, which owns and controls much of the airline, imposing their often draconian views on passengers and anyone else intersecting with the country.
And, let's be clear, if it's Tim, I'd expect a few free flights on SkyTeam partner Saudia (no alcohol, boohoo), not QR, since, you know, oneworld ain't his thang.