The state-owned service Turkmenistan Airlines was founded 4 May 1992.[6][7] In 1992, Turkmenistan Airlines became the first airline in the former Soviet Union to purchase a Boeing 737-300.[8] In April 1993, Turkmenistan became a full member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The first flight on a cargo aircraft IL-76 was completed on 19 April 1993 from Ashgabat to Brest, Belarus.[9]
From 2001, the airline phased out its Soviet-era fleet for a more modern fleet of Boeing 717s, which were extensively used for service on domestic routes until their retirement. Seven of the 717 series were purchased; the first was presented at the MAKS air show in 2001.[10] On 29 April 2009 a Boeing 737-700 was demonstrated in Ashgabat and on 2 September Boeing announced that Turkmenistan Airlines had confirmed an order for three more such aircraft worth $192 million.[11] Autumn airline supplemented by three Boeing airliners. In May 2009, the airline opened the Lachyn (Turkmen: Laçyn) Hotel in Ashgabat for transit passengers. Designed for 200 guests, it is located on Bitarap Türkmenistan şaýoly, which connects the city center to the Ashgabat Airport.[12][13] On 1 July 2011, the airline began to operate an Electronic ticket system[14][15] on all flights. Booking flights can be carried out in the standard way, but information about air travel began to be given out in the form of a passenger itinerary receipt.[16]
On 8 May 2013, a Boeing 737-800 was delivered.[17][18] On 3 June 2013 a fourth Boeing 737-800 arrived,[19] and on 18 December 2013 a fifth Boeing 737-800 arrived.[20]
In 2012, the airline began printing the full-colour magazine Lachyn ("Falcon"). This was the first in-flight product in Turkmenistan. The magazine is also distributed in the halls for official delegations and VIP-zones of airports in Turkmenistan.[21] In the same year, the airline carried 57,500 passengers to 15 international destinations and approx. 90,000 passengers on domestic routes per month (c. 1.77 million passengers per year).[22]
In January 2013 regular cargo flights to Brno commenced.[9] In March 2013 a new ticket sales centre was opened at 61 Atatürk Street. This building houses 30 sales offices; 17 for domestic flights and 13 for international routes.[23] In August 2013 a regular passenger flight to Lviv was started.[24] In October of the same year, flights to Donetsk[25] and Riga commenced [26] followed in December by the first scheduled service to Western Europe - Paris.[27] In March 2014, Turkmenistan Airlines announced that it was to commence long-haul flights using its newly acquired Boeing 777-200LRs.[28] The aircraft are currently utilized on flights to Bangkok, Beijing, Birmingham, Delhi and Istanbul.[29]
In 2017, the air transport enterprise of the State National Service Türkmenhowaýollary was transformed into a joint-stock companyTurkmenistan Airlines.[30][31]
In 2019, Turkmenistan Airlines officially opened ticket sales on its newly launched website.[32]
On 4 February 2019, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) suspended Turkmenistan Airlines' permission to fly in the EU.[33] This forced the airline to terminate its routes to the United Kingdom, France and Germany. In December, Turkmenistan Airlines resumed regular passenger traffic to European Union countries after a 10-month break.[34]
In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic and for the safety of passengers, Turkmenistan Airlines suspended all international regular passenger flights in March 2020.[35][36][37][38] In order to prevent the import and spread of coronavirus infection, all planes arriving in Turkmenistan from abroad are redirected to the Turkmenabat International Airport[39] or Turkmenbashi International Airport.
Since March 2021, Turkmenistan Airlines switched to the new Piece Concept baggage system.[40][41]
In May 2022, Turkmenistan Airlines announced the resumption of flights to Dubai, the popular UAE tourist destination as the travel industry starts recovering from the COVID-19 impact.[42] In 2022, regular passenger flights to Istanbul, Kazan, Moscow, Dubai, Frankfurt and Abu Dhabi were resumed.[43] Aircraft began to return to Ashgabat (during the pandemic, they were redirected to Turkmenabat and Turkmenbashi).[44]
In February 2023, the airline launched a stopover service on domestic flights[45][46], which involves a flight with a long transfer, when the air carrier offers to spend transit time not at the airport, but in the city next to which the airport is located.
In spring 2023, the airline purchased for the first time two cargo aircraft of the Airbus A330-200P2F type. [47] It was the first of its type to be used in Central Asia. New cargo flights on airplanes Airbus A330-200P2F was opened to Incheon, Hanoi, Milan, Shenzhen and Xi'an.
The first of Turkmenistan Airlines Boeing 777-300ER aircraft (368-seat[48], three-class configuration) entered service in December 2024, initially linking Ashgabat with Bankgok[49]. The Boeing 777-300ER have replaced the Boeing 757-200s as lifetime on those aircraft have expired. The Boeing 777-300ER are generally used on Turkmenistan Airlines Far East destinations, to London and Bankgok.
As of December 2023, Turkmenistan Airlines was maintaining services to Russia, Germany, UAE, China PR, Turkey, Thailand and England.[50]
As of January 2024[update], Turkmenistan Airlines operates flights to 5 domestic destinations from its hub at Ashgabat International Airport and [52][53] 14 international destinations in 12
countries.[54][55][56] The airline also operates dedicated cargo flights.
Bombardier Challenger 605Turkmenistan Airlines British Aerospace BAe-125-1000B
As of February 2024[update], the Turkmenistan Airlines commercial passenger fleet is all-Boeing. The full fleet (commercial passenger, VIP, cargo) consists of the following aircraft:[61]
Since its inception in 1992, the Turkmenistan Airlines fleet has operated many types of aircraft. Turkmenistan Airlines historically has operated the following aircraft:[69]
The headquarters of Turkmenistan Airlines are in Hero of Turkmenistan Atamyrat Nyýazow Avenue, 326 in Ashgabat.[71]
Branding
A Turkmenistan Airlines Boeing 737-300 in the old livery used since 1992A Turkmenistan Airlines Boeing 737-800 in the livery adapted since 2000s
The Turkmenistan Airlines logo, an encircled stylized falcon in flight,[72][73] was created in 1992 on a blue background.
In 2000s, Turkmenistan Airlines changed their livery. The encircled falcon was retained, and the background changed from blue to green. The aircraft's engines were painted green, new Turkmenistan Airlines logo on a green background was painted on the tail section. The main fuselage was painted in all white, and the brand name "Turkmenistan" was painted above the windows, also in green.
Turkmenistan Airlines operates a two-class configuration on its domestic and international routes: Business Class and Economy.
Premium Economy is offered on all Boeing 777-300ERs. Turkmenistan Airlines introduced a premium economy class in December 2023.[76][77] The seat pitch is 38 inches – six inches more than Economy Class – and the seat itself is wider and have a bigger recline. It has a large meal table, cocktail table, footrest, a 10.6-inch personal television, an in-seat power outlet, a multi-port connector for personal devices, and extra personal storage space. The Premium Economy Class seat offers a higher level of comfort with more living space in a separate cabin before the Economy Class zone.
Catering
Food and beverages are complimentary on all flights.[78]
In-flight magazine
Turkmenistan Airlines in-flight magazine, Lachyn (in Turkmen means "falcon"), is provided to all passengers on all international and domestic flights. Lachyn was introduced in October 2012[79] and is printed and published once a quarter. The magazine is published in Turkmen, Russian and English.[80]
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