From the First Code to the First Journey: How Turkish Airlines Engages with Young People at TEKNOFEST
In its previous report from TEKNOFEST Güneydoğu, ORIENT promised to take a closer look at the Turkish Airlines stand. There is indeed a good reason to do so: the airline’s space turned out to be more than just a presentation area. It has become a place where aviation meets technology, education and youth programmes.
TEKNOFEST Güneydoğu is being held from September 30 to October 4 at GAP Airport in Şanlıurfa. The organisers describe it as one of the largest aviation and technology festivals, with a programme that brings together exhibitions, competitions, air shows, educational activities and interactive zones.
The educational focus is particularly noticeable at the Turkish Airlines stand.
Schoolchildren are sitting around a long table. In front of them are laptops, small electronic devices and models of passenger aircraft. Staff members explain the tasks, while the children work with visual programming. Nearby are elements that allow them to see the results not only on a screen but also directly in practice.
It turns out that this is not simply a demonstration of programming.
Turkish Technology has officially announced a coding workshop at TEKNOFEST in Şanlıurfa, as well as the digital games BAG MERGE and SİBER KOŞU. Visitors to the stand are also being informed about career opportunities within the company. All these activities are taking place in the Turkish Technology zone at stand K9.
In this way, a small aircraft model on the table becomes a starting point for a much broader conversation about modern aviation.
Today, an ordinary flight involves much more than pilots, cabin crew and ground services. It also relies on software, algorithms, data analysis, booking systems, digital passenger services, cybersecurity and the automation of numerous processes.
This is why the presence of Turkish Technology at TEKNOFEST appears entirely natural. For young visitors, complex aviation infrastructure is translated into an accessible language through games, programming and practical tasks.
The educational component of the festival as a whole is organised in a similar way. TEKNOFEST presents itself not only as an exhibition of completed technological developments, but also as a space where schoolchildren and students can take part in competitions, workshops and technology programmes.
It creates a kind of pathway towards professional interest: today, a child programs an aircraft model; tomorrow, they may study information technology or artificial intelligence; and several years later, they may already be working on the digital systems of real-world aviation.
But Turkish Airlines’ work with young people at the stand is not limited to technology.
Another programme presented nearby is Gençlik Kulübü — the Turkish Airlines Youth Club.
At TEKNOFEST, visitors are being given a separate brochure about the programme. It is intended for young people aged 12 to 25 who have not yet turned 26, and is linked to the Miles&Smiles loyalty programme. Registration takes place through the Turkish Airlines mobile application.
This is where practical benefits come into play.
According to the airline’s official information, Gençlik Kulübü members can receive discounts of up to 20% on domestic flights and up to 10% on international flights, 250 MB of onboard Wi-Fi, baggage allowance of up to 40 kg, and the opportunity to change a ticket once free of charge.
The programme also includes Miles&Smiles bonuses: 2,500 welcome miles after the first qualifying flight and 25% more miles on Turkish Airlines flights. In addition, the club offers various benefits in education, transportation, entertainment, shopping and other services.
However, there is an important clarification for ORIENT readers.
According to the current Turkish Airlines rules, Gençlik Kulübü is open to Turkish citizens aged 12–25 who have Miles&Smiles membership. Some benefits also depend on the fare, route and other conditions, while the discounts do not apply to all types of tickets and flights.
Therefore, the QR code displayed in the brochure should primarily be viewed as an opportunity to access official Turkish Airlines information and independently check the programme’s current terms and conditions.
The brochure itself complements the overall impression of the stand: Turkish Airlines is addressing young people here in several different roles at once.
As future professionals — through Turkish Technology’s technology workshops.
As potential travellers — through Gençlik Kulübü.
And as people who can already be interested in aviation not only from the perspective of a passenger, but also as a field for a future career.
Another direction presented at the stand is Turkish Airlines Holidays, which is related to tourism and travel. As a result, the airline’s space presents not just a single product, but an entire ecosystem built around travel, technology and a young audience.
This approach is particularly interesting in the context of TEKNOFEST.
A large proportion of festival visitors are schoolchildren, students and young professionals. For them, aviation is presented here in several dimensions at once: they can see a real aircraft or an unmanned aerial vehicle, try their hand at a technological task, talk about career opportunities and, at the same time, learn about possibilities for their own future trips.
In this way, the Turkish Airlines stand becomes more than just another branded space among dozens of pavilions.
It shows how a modern aviation company is seeking to engage with the younger generation on several levels at once — from the first introduction to coding to the first independent journey.
And perhaps this is what best reflects the overall spirit of TEKNOFEST: not simply to demonstrate technology, but to inspire the next generation to want to work with it.
