Plan your next Ramadan getaway with Turkish Airlines

AS Ramadan 2025 draws to a close, travelers around the world reflect on the unique and enriching experiences each country offers during the holy month.

Türkiye, with its rich heritage, stunning architecture, and deep-rooted traditions, stands out as an unforgettable destination during this sacred time.

In an exclusive interview with Astro Awani, Ümit Devel, Vice President of Sales for Asia, Far East, and Oceania at Turkish Airlines, shares the exciting travel packages and offerings available for tourists—especially curated for the Ramadan season.

Whether you’re planning ahead for next year or simply inspired by the spirit of travel, Turkish Airlines invites you to discover the beauty of Türkiye during Ramadan.

Turkish Airlines invites you to discover the beauty of Türkiye during Ramadan.

Follow the interview with Ümit Devel:

Turkish Airlines & Ramadan Tourism

1. How does Turkish Airlines contribute to Türkiye’s month-long Ramadan celebrations, especially in attracting international visitors?

- At Turkish Airlines, we see Ramadan as more than just a season, it is an opportunity to connect cultures and welcome visitors to experience the spiritual and cultural beauty of Türkiye. With our global network, we make it easier for travelers, especially from Malaysia, to visit Türkiye and immerse themselves in the rich traditions of Ramadan. Whether it is the historical mosques of Istanbul, the spiritual ambiance of Konya, or the warm iftar gatherings in Bursa, from spirituality to hospitality, Türkiye truly has it all when it comes to Ramadan experiences. - To support this, we work closely with Türkiye’s tourism boards, hospitality partners, and travel agencies to create exclusive Ramadan travel packages. Through special promotions and added flight frequencies, we ensure that Türkiye remains an accessible and welcoming destination for all travelers during this holy month.

Turkish Airlines ensures that Türkiye remains an accessible and welcoming destination for all travelers during this holy month.

2. Have you seen an increase in travel demand to Türkiye during Ramadan, and what trends have you observed among travelers?

- Yes, we have noticed a growing interest. Travels are drawn to Türkiye not just for its beautiful landscapes, but also for its deep-rooted Islamic heritage and the special way Ramadan is celebrated here. - A key trend we see is families and groups traveling together for a more meaningful Ramadan experience. Many choose to stay in Istanbul to pray historic mosques like the Blue Mosque and Ayasofya, while others visit Konya to experience the spiritual legacy of Rumi.

Travels are drawn to Türkiye not just for its beautiful landscapes, but also for its deep-rooted Islamic heritage.

3. Does Turkish Airlines offer any special Ramadan-themed services or promotions for passengers traveling during this holy month?

- Absolutely. Turkish Airlines understands the importance of Ramadan for our passengers, and we offer exclusive Ramadan promo fare during this time, making travel to Türkiye more favorable. - Onboard, we also enhance the experience with Ramadan themed services, including carefully prepared iftar and sahur meals, featuring traditional Turkish flavors. - Wherever in the air or on the ground, we make sure our passengers feel the warmth of Ramadan.

Turkish Airlines offers exclusive Ramadan promo fare during this time, making travel to Türkiye more favorable.

Enhancing the Passenger Experience

4. How does Turkish Airlines accommodate passengers who are fasting, especially on long-haul flights? - We prioritize our passenger’s needs, especially during Ramadan to ensure that passengers can observe their fast comfortably, no matter where they are in their journey. - Our award winning inflight catering, recognized globally for its quality and authenticity, ensures that fasting passengers are well taken care of throughout their journey. On our long-haul flights, our Flying Chefs, a signature feature of Turkish Airlines – oversee meal preparation, ensuring Türkiye’s rich culinary heritage.

Turkish Airlines prioritizes passenger’s needs, especially during Ramadan to ensure that passengers can observe their fast comfortably, no matter where they are in their journey.

5. Are there special in-flight meal options or iftar and sahur arrangements for passengers during Ramadan?

- Yes, we offer specially prepared iftar and sahur meals on our flights, designed to be both nutritious and reflective of traditional Ramadan cuisine. - One of the unique aspects of our inflight dining is our bread made from ancient grains dating back to Göbeklitepe, the site of the world’s oldest known temple. This not only connects passengers to Türkiye’s deep history but also adds a special touch to the Ramadan experience onboard.

Turkish Airlines prioritizes passenger’s needs, especially during Ramadan to ensure that passengers can observe their fast comfortably, no matter where they are in their journey.

6. Beyond meals, how does Turkish Airlines incorporate elements of Ramadan into the passenger experience, such as cultural programming or spiritual guidance?

- Ramadan is a time of reflection, and we incorporate this into the travel experience. - Our inflight entertainment features a selection of programs including Ramadan documentaries, including Quran recitations and cultural content about Türkiye’s rich Islamic history. - Whether during Ramadan or any time of the year, Turkish Airlines continues to blend tradition, hospitality and award-winning service to make every journey memorable.

Supporting Türkiye’s Tourism Sector

7. With Türkiye hosting a full-month Ramadan event, how is Turkish Airlines working with tourism boards and hospitality sectors to promote travel to key destinations?

- At Turkish Airlines, we are committed to promoting Türkiye as a premier travel destination, not only during Ramadan but throughout the year. - By collaborating with tourism boards, hospitality sectors, and travel agencies worldwide to promote country’s diverse attractions, we ensure that Türkiye’s rich cultural heritage is more accessible to international travelers. - In Malaysia, we launched our Ramadan Special Fares starting from February, offering exclusive discounts for travelers heading to Istanbul and beyond in Türkiye. This initiative encourages more visitors to experience Türkiye’s unique Ramadan atmosphere. - We have also aligned the fares for cities like Şanlıurfa, Antalya, İzmir and Konya with İstanbul to provide flexibility and cost advantage for our travel agencies designing customized tour packages. - Addition to these, our special campaign launched on March 10, offers flights to Konya at lower fare than İstanbul for a limited time, making this destination even more attractive. - For Malaysian travelers, Türkiye has become an increasingly popular destination, whether for cultural exploration, natural wonders, or shopping and gastronomy. To support this demand, we offer convenient connectivity with daily flights from Kuala Lumpur to Istanbul and extensive onward connections across Türkiye. - A key part of our strategy is our Stopover Istanbul program, which has recently been enhanced to offer 2 nights of free hotel accommodation for Economy Class passengers and 3 nights for Business Class passengers. This allows travelers to experience the beauty of Istanbul before continuing their journey. Malaysia has been the number one country in our entire global network for stopover usage in the past year with the highest number of passengers taking advantage of this service. - Given this strong interest, we can expect an even higher number of Malaysian travelers to use Stopover Istanbul in 2025, as more people look to explore Türkiye while travelling to Europe, the Middle East and beyond. - With Stopover Istanbul and TourIstanbul, Turkish Airlines ensures that even transit passengers have a glimpse of Türkiye’s world famous hospitality. - From Ramadan to summer festivals, from ski resorts to ancient cities, Türkiye has it all and Turkish Airlines makes it easy to explore.

Turkish Airlines committed to promoting Türkiye as a premier travel destination, not only during Ramadan but throughout the year.

8. What are the most popular destinations in Türkiye for travelers during Ramadan, and how is Turkish Airlines ensuring accessibility to these locations?

- Ramadan in Türkiye is truly special experience, where history, spirituality and tradition come together in a way that captivates visitors. Istanbul remains the top destination, with its historic mosques, vibrant Ramadan bazaars and communal İftar gatherings make it an unforgettable experience. - What is great about Istanbul is that even transit passengers can discover Türkiye’s rich Ramadan traditions through our TourIstanbul program, which offers free guided city tours for travelers with layovers of 6 to 24 hours. TourIstanbul allows travelers to experience the beauty of Ramadan in Istanbul, visiting key landmarks and even breaking fast in one of the city’s historic settings. - Konya, the city of Rumi, is another favorite attracting travelers seeking a deeper spiritual experience. And then we have Şanlıurfa, the City of Prophets. It is home to Balıklıgöl, historic mosques and an authentic Ramadan atmosphere. - As Turkish Airlines we ensure seamless access to these destinations. We fly to more countries than any other airline in the world, connecting travelers from over 130 countries to Istanbul daily. From there we offer frequent flights to Konya, Şanlıurfa and all other domestic destinations. - By combining special fares, stopover opportunities and city tours, whether you are travelling for religious reflection, cultural exploration or simply to experience the unique ambiance of Ramadan in Türkiye, Turkish Airlines is here to connect you with these destinations.

Ümit Devel, Vice President of Sales for Asia, Far East, and Oceania at Turkish Airlines

9. Do you see Ramadan tourism as a long-term opportunity for Turkish Airlines, and how do you plan to enhance it in the coming years?

- Ramadan tourism is an important part of Türkiye’s broader appeal, but it is just one of many cultural and natural attractions that make the country a top destination year-round. - Although Türkiye has a lot to offer in terms of cultural and spiritual experiences, it also is a hub for nature, adventure, luxury and wellness tourism. - As Turkish Airlines, we are continuously expanding our global reach. As we are connecting travelers from over 130 countries to Türkiye, we have increased our capacity in key markets to accommodate the rising demand. - Our daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul provides a seamless connection for Malaysian travelers, whether they are visiting Türkiye or continuing to Europe or beyond. - In coming years, we plan to introduce new routes, increase frequencies and enhance our passenger experience. With our new generation aircraft, we aim to operate three daily flights to provide even greater convenience for our passengers. - Türkiye has rich culture, breathtaking landscapes and world class hospitality, and as Turkish Airlines we will continue to be the bridge connection travelers from all around the world to these unforgettable experiences.

Turkish Airlines' daily flights between Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul provides a seamless connection for Malaysian travelers, whether they are visiting Türkiye or continuing to Europe or beyond.

10. With Türkiye promoting Ramadan as a cultural and spiritual attraction, do you foresee similar initiatives in other Islamic countries, and how can Turkish Airlines play a role in connecting these destinations?

- Yes, we see great potential for similar initiatives in other Muslim-majority countries and as the airlines that flies to more countries than any other, Turkish Airlines uniquely positioned to connect travelers to these cultural and spiritual experiences. - For instance, in Malaysia for Umrah travelers, beyond usual itineraries, we have introduced side trips to destinations like Konya and Şanlıurfa and made their fares common with Istanbul. This allows travelers to visit sacred relics and the City of Prophets as part of their Umrah journey, enhancing overall experience. - While these destinations hold great significance for travelers, our efforts extend beyond religious tourism. - Türkiye is a bridge between cultures, and at Turkish Airlines our strategy has always been to connect people, cultures and histories by connecting travelers from all backgrounds to its diverse experiences. - By expanding our offerings, increasing flight frequencies, and collaborating with tourism partners, we continue to make Türkiye and other key destinations more accessible. Whether for Ramadan experiences, for Umrah, or cultural discovery, Turkish Airlines is honored to be the carrier that connects people to these meaningful journeys.

*Astro Awani had the opportunity to explore Istanbul and Bursa, Türkiye, for six days and five nights during the recent Ramadan, in collaboration with Turkish Airlines.