AIRWAYS TRAVELER
for some time until confirming that I didn ’ t need a visa to travel to Dubai , despite the fact that a colleague had confirmed so . In the end , the boarding passes were issued and I was good to pass through security .
Security screening was equally problematic . The lines moved at a snail ’ s pace and the staff , although doing their best under pressure , seemed overwhelmed .
Once past security , the terminal itself proved to be dated and in desperate need of renovation . The facilities are inadequate for the volume of passengers , and finding a seat was impossible . The dining and shopping options were another letdown . The food choices are limited and overpriced . The same could be said about the retail options , making the overall experience feel like a rip-off .
Despite the challenges and the initial negative experience , I couldn ’ t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation . As I waited for my flight , I took a look at the array of airlines on the apron , and contemplated the global nature of air travel . Just as the Silk Road was a conduit for the exchange of goods and culture , today ’ s airports serve as crossroads where people from all walks of life come together .
THE FIRST LEG OF THE JOURNEY
Everything changed once I had boarded my Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul . The staff were polite , although they checked my passport again , holding me for some extra minutes . Nevertheless , boarding was quick and , in no time , I was onboard the Airbus A321neo .
Now , some context about Turkish Airlines and its A321neos :
The aircraft left the Airbus production lines in the Cabin Flex configuration , which includes rearranging the lavatories and galleys in the rear section on the fuselage , removing the door forward of the wing , and introducing new overwing emergency exits in the center section . These modifications enable the aircraft to carry up to 240 passengers , making them perfect for the intra-regional , high-density routes in the Turkish Airlines network .
Nevertheless , the airline operates its A321neos with Business Class 20 seats in a 2-2 configuration and 162 Economy Class ones in 3-3 . In Economy , where I flew that today , Turkish Airlines has selected the Epianka model from TSI Aviation Seats , a joint venture between the airline and Assan Hanil . Since 2012 , the company has designed and manufactured aircraft seats and components , and provided repair and remarket services for aircraft seating .
What you notice when boarding the Turkish Airlines A321neos is how new they look . The Economy cabin elicits a sense of comfort and luxury , and the Epianka seats have a sleek , modern look , with the details highlighting the branding of the airline , such as the emblazoned logo on the seats and seat belts . The black leather upholstery with details in red and adjustable headrests complement the smart ambiance .
The crew welcomed me onboard , indicating where my seat was . The soothing onboard playlist , which started with Dandelion by French musician
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24 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2024 www . airwaysmag . com