NEWS 1
Akin Koc: ‘Anatolian Sky was like my family’
YOU NEED TO KNOW
IN HIS WORDS: Anatolian’s Akin Koc
I set up Anatolian Sky 26 years ago when I
came over from Turkey and could not get a job. The [recent] problems for
Turkey started in 2013 and hit us hard by 2015. We tried to direct business to other destinations. It worked at some levels, but we lost to Turkey. The attacks happened one after another and people lost confidence. The business could have
survived this year if it [terrorism] had not intensified so badly. It is heartbreaking. I am proud of my team.
Anatolian Sky fails after Turkey’s latest terror blow
Juliet Dennis
juliet.dennis@
travelweekly.co.uk
The boss of failed Turkey specialist Anatolian Sky Holidays said he “fought until the end” but the recent airport attack in Istanbul was the final straw that broke the business.
The operator became the fourth
Turkey specialist to fail in the past 12 months after a series of terrorist attacks in the country. Suicide bombers from so-called
Islamic State killed 42 people and injured more than 230 after setting off explosives at Istanbul Ataturk airport on June 28. Anatolian Sky collapsed three
days later. Its bookings to Turkey were 78% down year on year. Founder Akin Koc said: “We put
up a hard fight until the end. The attacks happened one after another and people lost confidence. When Istanbul airport happened, with all the chaos and cancellations, it became very difficult to sustain [the business]. I do not give up easily but the point comes where you cannot do it any more.” There have been at least eight
terrorist attacks in Turkey this year, including two in June. The attacks at the airport caused airlines and operators to cancel trips. Numerous cruise lines cancelled visits to Istanbul and a handful pulled the city from itineraries for the rest of the year. Intrepid Group, which had cancelled all trips immediately after the attacks, resumed operations yesterday (July 6). As Travel Weekly went to press,
4
travelweekly.co.uk 7 July 2016
“I do not give up easily but the point comes where you cannot do it any more”
an administrator had yet to be appointed for Anatolian Sky, which had 150 clients abroad when it ceased trading and 460 forward bookings. It was licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority to carry just over 5,500 passengers a year. Prestige Holidays was among the
operators to protect bookings and work on forward sales. Turkey specialist The Discerning
Collection has also handled some bookings. Managing director Nick Wrightman said Turkey accounts for 80% of the operator’s business but he is confident his business,
They have stayed until the end to help clients. I really hope Turkey gets out of this crisis. I am hoping sales will come back by the end of this year. I am in shock. I’m not even thinking about what happens next. My priority is my clients. Anatolian Sky was like my family and I hope the industry does not abandon Turkey.
based on a trust fund model, will survive. Turnover is up, but margins are 12% down. The CAA is in talks with
hoteliers and transfer companies to guarantee payments owed by Anatolian Sky but admitted some holidaymakers, or agents on their behalf, could be asked to pay again. Andy Cohen, head of Atol, said
customers should keep receipts for Atol to claim a full refund. Miles Morgan Travel owner Miles Morgan said two Anatolian Sky clients in Croatia had been asked by hotels to pay again. Gemma Antrobus, managing
director of Haslemere Travel in Surrey, said: “It makes me so sad these recent acts of terrorism have impacted so heavily on a company
I know and respect.” › Talk Back, page 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
