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 just following its published rules! Yowzers.
In this post:
Turkish Airlines blacklists journalist for six months
Turkish aviation journalist Ali Kıdık claims that he has been banned from Turkish Airlines for a period of six months, for violating the company’s “Safe Travel Passenger Tracking System.” Okay, that sounds like something serious, and like a list reserved for people who cause major disturbances. Did he assault the crew? Pee on another passenger? Smuggle his emotional support snake onto the flight?
Well, when you pull up the “Safe Travel Passenger Tracking System,” take a look at the last point, which is apparently grounds for being banned:
Should a passenger make a statement that potentially diminishes the airline’s brand value, whether through the media or through channels facilitated by the airline, the airline reserves the right to disallow the passenger on the flight.
To go into a bit more detail, here’s the email that the journalist reportedly received from the airline, translated to English:
Airline companies have the right not to transport passengers who do not comply with the rules established in accordance with international passenger and baggage transportation conditions.
In this regard, we also include passengers who we determine to have behaved inappropriately in the Safe Flight Passenger Tracking System program.
The Safe Flight Passenger Tracking System is a system implemented to ensure that passengers who intentionally engage in actions/share content that is damaging or harmful to the brand image of Turkish Airlines, or who produce similar content, are not accepted on our flights for a certain period of time.
In this context, we would like to inform you that you have been included in the Turkish Airlines Safe Flight Passenger Tracking System due to your behavior that is not in line with our brand image, and that we will not be able to accept you on our flights until July 12, 2026.
If you would like detailed information on this matter, you can contact us via the Safe Flight Passenger Tracking System Form.
What did this journalist say that was so bad?
We don’t formally know which incident caused the journalist to be banned from Turkish Airlines, since the carrier didn’t provide that detail in the initial correspondence conveying the ban.
However, in terms of timing, it followed a January 7, 2026, social media post, where he reported that Turkish Airlines flight attendants were no longer allowed to wear national flag pins on their uniforms, and were no longer allowed to feature a portrait of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the country’s founder.
That might sound minor, but that got quite a bit of attention, especially with the way he framed it, wondering if the airline had an “issue with Atatürk and the Turkish flag?” He also asked if it was something that the pro-Kurdish political party had requested. This caused many people to be angry.
However, some suggest that his post may not have been completely accurate, and he may have been making a big deal out of nothing. The uniform regulations have reportedly had this rule since 2011, which limits flight attendants to only wearing their badges. A recent memo simply reminded employees of the rule. That would suggest that this wasn’t a policy change at all.
Bottom line
Turkish Airlines has banned a journalist from its flights for a period of six months, for apparently saying negative things about the airline. The interesting thing here is that the airline isn’t even trying to hide this, and literally has a published policy that passengers can be banned if they “make a statement that potentially diminishes the airline’s brand value.” So, ummm, Turkish Airlines passengers beware!
What do you make of this Turkish Airlines ban?
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...
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.
Turkroaches
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.
After the reading the title, I thought this article was about drama boy Josh Cahil.
Josh is a journalist? I'd've gone with 'vlogger' but these are self-described titles anyway.
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.
The guy is a blogger, not a journalist.
*vlogger
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...
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...
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.
Could have been worse. At least there were no bone-saws involved this time.
Yup. Never forget. Then again, Turkey didn’t literally do it, but, it did happen there.
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.
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.
I guess TK's tolerance to criticism was inspired by the orange turd.
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.
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.
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.
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."
You’re onto something…
(It’s sure gotten far worse this year.)
WTF.
It's still not Cahill or John and Sebastian?
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.
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.
Unlimited Q-Suite for life?? When do I start sucking? LOL.
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.