09 October 2018•Update: 10 October 2018
By Muhammed Ali Gurtas
ANKARA
National flag carrier Turkish Airlines added TRT World channel to its live television programing service, the airline said Tuesday.
"Turkish Airlines now also extend live TRT World broadcast across its wide-body aircrafts for its passengers to enjoy programing from Turkey’s first English broadcaster," the company said in a statement.
Currently, Turkish Airlines' in-flight entertainment system allows passengers to watch eight channels on board.
"As the national flagship airline of Turkey, where the East and West meet, we offer Turkish hospitality to our guests on board," said Ilker Ayci, the airline's chairman.
"Today we are proud to offer TRT World’s objective perspective and alternative approach to news making to 122 countries we fly," Ayci added.
According to the airline's statement, TRT's head Ibrahim Eren said that to be informed and up-to-date on world events is an important issue.
"Passengers tune in to different outlets for news and it is vital to have variety in your sources to have a more well-rounded view of current events," Eren said.
"We are grateful to Turkish Airlines for delivering our content in-flight and making this challenge a lot easier during flight.
"Being accessible also onboard is a major achievement to fulfill our promise to offer our service everywhere, whatever platform our audience prefer to receive it," he said.
TRT World was launched in 2015 as a part of Turkish public broadcaster TRT which operates 14 television channels and nearly 20 radio stations.
Turkish Airlines, founded in 1933, flies to more than 300 destinations in over 120 countries with its nearly 330 aircraft. Last year, the airline carried 68.6 million passengers with a 79.1 percent seat occupancy rate.
