Name: Fatma Yuceler
Title: General manager, Western USA
Company, city: Turkish Airlines, Los Angeles, Calif.
Number of employees: 15,000-plus; 20 in Los Angeles
Recent project: Working on a corporate travel agreement with businesses in the United States
First job: Turkish Airlines part time while studying at university
Little-known fact about you: I am a workaholic.
YOUR BUSINESS
Essential business philosophy: Be organized and work as hard as possible. I always try to do my best and maintain a balance between work and home.
Best way to keep a competitive edge: Follow trends. That is one way Turkish Airlines has become one of the fastest-growing companies. It is also important to price competitively and offer unique, quality services.
Yardstick of success: For the second year in a row (2011 and 2012), Skytrax awarded Turkish Airlines Best Airline in Europe. Other recent awards were for our premium-economy cabin, service and food.
AS A TRAVELER
What is the most important item you take when traveling? My iPhone, to stay connected to work and family
How do you spend your time on board? If there is onboard WiFi, I prefer to work.
What is your favorite restaurant in the world? Kös¸ebas¸i, an Istanbul kebab restaurant
What is your favorite destination in the world? Any tropical island
ABOUT YOUR BRAND
What does Turkish Airlines offer business travelers? At the top of the list is comfort, with our fully flat seats and an onboard chef. We also offer WiFi in flight on our New York City and Los Angeles routes. As a member of Star Alliance, we offer access to the entire network and reciprocal advantages with our Miles&Smiles and TTC Corporate Club programs.
What can travelers expect from Turkish Airlines in the future? We are adding more exciting destinations worldwide to our route map, including Africa, Iran, Yemen and Luxembourg. We added more than 30 destinations in 2012 and look forward to launching service from Houston in 2013. We are adding new airplanes and expanding our fleet, with the aim of achieving 5-star airline ranking in the future.
What is the most challenging aspect to thriving in the North American market? To thrive, it is essential to focus on expanding. In less than a year, our flights from Los Angeles went from four times weekly to daily. We will open future routes to Houston and Washington, D.C. We offer a better premium economy than other airlines. Our seat is modeled after the old-style business-class seats, with meal service and an entertainment system. The safety, comfort, unique service and traditional Turkish hospitality associated with our airline help us thrive as well.
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