Turkish Airline Leaves Behind
$12 Million to Syrian Regime

The woes of Turkish Airlines [THY] continue to pile up. The airline has been in the news lately for its endless delays, unannounced schedule changes, canceled flights and the firing of 305 staff members. All of the employees have legitimate grievances against their termination. In its latest scandal, the airline left $12 million to the Syrian tyrant Bashar al-Assad.

About This Article

Summary : Deniz Zeyrek reports with the latest Turkish Airlines scandal. When the Turkish embassy in Syria was recalled, the airline also closed down its offices, leaving $12 million in the country. While the diplomats collected all of their assets, the airline was only able to repatriate $2 million back into Turkey, out of a total of $14 million. Publisher: Radikal (Turkey) Original Title: $12 Million with Assad Author: Deniz Zeyrek First Published: June 10, 2012 Posted on: June 11 2012 Translated by: Timur Goksel Categories : Syria   Turkey

I recently heard that THY’s management, which drives a hard bargain for every cent with its workers, left behind $12 million to the Syrian government. It wasn’t hard for me to track down this story. When Turkey recently evacuated its Damascus embassy and Aleppo consulate, THY suspended its seven weekly flights to Damascus and five to Aleppo as of March 28 and closed down its offices. While the diplomats successfully brought all their assets with them, THY left behind $12 million.

THY had heeded earlier warnings and withdrawn $2 million of the $14 million that it had in Syria, but failed to recover and repatriate the rest. Now the Assad regime is refusing to even discuss the matter. Perhaps Turkish Airlines should gulp down a cold glass of water over the fate of that money.