Dear Passengers,

We are nearing the end of another successful summer season for the tourism sector, and meanwhile our heart has begun to beat for Turkey's national basketball team, which is competing in the 14th World Basketball Championship being held in the US city of Indianapolis between 29 August and 8 September. This year has been a memorable one for Turkish sport so far, and this is the first time that our first national basketball team has got through to the World Cup Final, after coming second in the European championship. We have decorated the Hakkari, one of our A-340 aircraft, in the hope that it brings luck to the team. Adorned with the championship emblem, basketball and net motifs, the aircraft will lend its support in the sky to our star and crescent team. We are confident that the 12-man squad will enable us to relive the joy we felt when the Turkish football team came third in the 2002 World Cup, and wish them success.

This autumn we are adding Hong Kong, the most important and most modern centre of commerce in the Far East, to our flight points. From 28 October 2002 you will be able to fly to Hong Kong under the wing of Turkish Airlines on Mondays and Saturdays. In this issue I wish to inform you of two innovations. In response to passenger demand we have recommenced Business Class services on our Istanbul-Ankara-Istanbul flights. In particular, passengers arriving on international flights have expressed their desire to continue by Business Class on their connecting flights, so from the middle of September this service will be reintroduced on domestic flights between Istanbul and Ankara.

The second innovation will enable holders of Miles & Miles cards to keep track of their mileage points. So that your flights are recorded with greater accuracy in your account, you will now find your Miles & Miles membership number and card status on the boarding card presented to you during check-in on outward flights from Turkey. All you have to do is check that the Miles & Miles membership number is on the card, which means that the flight has been entered in your account, and that the number is accurate. Turkish Airlines continues to expand its flight network and services in response to your requests, and is working incessantly to ensure that you enjoy safe and comfortable flights to the four corners of the world. Wishing you all a pleasant flight.

Yusuf BOLAYIRLI
President and CEO