Delta to suspend Istanbul immediately
Apr 20, 2016, 10:01 am
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Yes, a suicide bombing in Istanbul on 19 March 2016, killing five people and injuring 30+ people:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...ly-bomb-attack
The seasonal Delta nonstop carried mostly American tourists, so it is not surprising that recent events (not just in IST) have curtailed US-originating travel to some of these spots.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...ly-bomb-attack
The seasonal Delta nonstop carried mostly American tourists, so it is not surprising that recent events (not just in IST) have curtailed US-originating travel to some of these spots.
OTOH, since DL operates only seasonal service to/from IST, I guess there was no urgency to make a decision immediately after the incident.
Apr 20, 2016, 10:06 am
#17
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CHA/TYS
Programs: The Mac Daddy of Heimlich County (and low-ball status)
Posts: 2,868
lol a large terrorist attack within the past month isn't really that long ago.
Apr 20, 2016, 10:10 am
#18
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: DL; AA; UA; CO; LHLX; NZ; QR; EK; BA
Posts: 7,409
They took a wait-and-see attitude after the incident and obviously, advance bookings did not look good. In fact, this past weekend, they just downgauged the flight from a 245-seat 767-400ER to a 225-seat 767-300ER. Last summer, it was the 293-seat A330-300....
Apr 20, 2016, 10:12 am
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
I guess the 757 wasn't an option, or perhaps DL considered the State Department warnings and decided against sending their crew to IST.
Apr 20, 2016, 10:25 am
#20
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,394
A while ago? It has only been a month...the State Department's upgraded warning was effective March 29 (replacing the March 17 one which was before the incident).
They took a wait-and-see attitude after the incident and obviously, advance bookings did not look good. In fact, this past weekend, they just downgauged the flight from a 245-seat 767-400ER to a 225-seat 767-300ER. Last summer, it was the 293-seat A330-300....
They took a wait-and-see attitude after the incident and obviously, advance bookings did not look good. In fact, this past weekend, they just downgauged the flight from a 245-seat 767-400ER to a 225-seat 767-300ER. Last summer, it was the 293-seat A330-300....
And even more in consideration for DL is there is a lot of cruise traffic for IST/ATH and those people don't typically have a lot of flexibility especially if this is going to add another connection (potentially) both ways.
DL is going to be refunding a lot of people who will be giving TK a shot for the first time, and several of those people are not going to come back to DL after trying TK
Apr 20, 2016, 10:26 am
#21
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Maine
Programs: AA Plat, FI Silver, DL alumnus
Posts: 1,432
Paris and Amsterdam are still a long way from IST. If you want to stay on DL metal, ask to be reaccommodated on something to ATH (or FCO).
Apr 20, 2016, 10:35 am
#22
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
Part of the attraction of the nonstop was the ability to avoid long connecting segments in AF/KLM Eurobusiness class while having a long TATL flight with enough time to eat dinner and get a nice long sleep.
Apr 20, 2016, 10:43 am
#23
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,154
I think cruise bookings in general are down for Europe this summer (good year to go, there's some deals to be had, assuming you can find airfare for a reasonable price), and on top of that the cruise lines seem to be getting a bit leary of Istanbul themselves. I'm not sure there' been a lot of cancelling IST yet (although I think I've seen some), but it wouldn't take much more at this point before they cut and run.
Apr 20, 2016, 10:50 am
#24
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
I think cruise bookings in general are down for Europe this summer (good year to go, there's some deals to be had, assuming you can find airfare for a reasonable price), and on top of that the cruise lines seem to be getting a bit leary of Istanbul themselves. I'm not sure there' been a lot of cancelling IST yet (although I think I've seen some), but it wouldn't take much more at this point before they cut and run.
Apr 20, 2016, 11:17 am
#25
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: DTW
Programs: DL DM, 3.3 MM Miler, Lifetime Hilton Diamond VIP, United, American, National ExecElite
Posts: 201
I'll let you know what DL RA says as that may be an option I'll look at if they can't accommodate my GUC which was confirmed on my return in July.
Apr 20, 2016, 11:27 am
#26
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: BWI
Programs: DL FO
Posts: 312
As an anecdote, my mother and I were planning a trip to Istanbul for this spring, and would have taken the JFK-IST route. In January, we made the decision to hold off on Istanbul for now. We're going to Italy instead.
Apr 20, 2016, 11:44 am
#27
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New York, western US
Programs: DM/3MM
Posts: 4,246
I can imagine that travel has fallen off regardless. I'll go pretty much anywhere, and at this point I would not travel to Turkey as a tourist. I really like the place, but there's too much uncertainty/targeting tourist areas to risk it. There are too many other places to go to. And some might say the terrorists "win" by me making that decision, but there it is. It's more complicated than that, though, which I'll leave as this is not Omni.
Apr 20, 2016, 11:56 am
#28
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
A shame for such a beautiful country, but DL is being prudent and sensible given the security situation and what must be a cratering of demand.
Apr 20, 2016, 12:12 pm
#29
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: DL; AA; UA; CO; LHLX; NZ; QR; EK; BA
Posts: 7,409
And it followed on a terrorist attack in January in Istanbul, February and March bombings in Ankara, and numerous PKK attacks/conflicts. Tourism was already down 10% YoY in February. After the two March bombings, I can't see numbers recovering any time soon.
A shame for such a beautiful country, but DL is being prudent and sensible given the security situation and what must be a cratering of demand.
A shame for such a beautiful country, but DL is being prudent and sensible given the security situation and what must be a cratering of demand.
http://ftnnews.com/news-from-turkey/...-istanbul.html
Apr 20, 2016, 2:09 pm
#30
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Western Wisconsin
Programs: DL DM, HH Devalued Diamond, Hertz President's Club
Posts: 800
I did a MR to IST a few years ago....agree it is an amazing city. I guess I did not even know DL flew there as I was on KLM from ORD-AMS-IST. I hope they can get the environment safe again. I'd love to go back.