Airways Magazine September 2024 | Page 22

AIRWAYS TRAVELER
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The Silk Road , that ancient network of trade routes , has long been a symbol of connection and cultural exchange . Spanning continents and linking civilizations , it served as a conduit for not just goods but also ideas , art , religion , and knowledge . In our modern era , air travel has become the new Silk Road , bridging distances that once seemed insurmountable , and still connecting people and goods from one side of the world to another .
This article chronicles my journey with Turkish Airlines ( TK ) from Manchester ( MAN ) to Dubai ( DXB ), with a layover in Istanbul ( IST ), mirroring the spirit of the ancient Silk Road in the sky .
TERMINAL
TURMOIL
IN
MANCHESTER
My journey began at Manchester Airport on a sunny Sunday morning last June . Having arrived by bus , I reached Terminal 1 through the Skylink — a long pedestrian bridge that connects the terminals with the airport ’ s train and bus station . The moving walkways known as travellators have been out of service for years , making the walking times longer ; however , Manchester Airport has confirmed that
works are underway to replace the travellators and that they expect to install the new ones by next year .
The experience of Terminal 1 at Manchester Airport was disappointing . The terminal , originally built in 1962 , has undergone a series of changes over the decades , and the check-in area of the airport is small enough to get crowded with just two or three international flights . That was the case in my journey . Low ceilings , poor lighting , and confusing and insufficient signage combine to thwart the basic expectations of travelers .
The check-in process was relatively rapid despite the long queues . To the credit of the ground-handling company that serves Turkish Airlines at the airport , the lines were properly managed , but the staff at the counter was impolite , avoiding any eye contact and holding me
22 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2024 www . airwaysmag . com