Home > Sports News > THY had passed the buck to the federation: Statement from the Turkish Volleyball Federation regarding the 'plane' crisis!

THY had passed the buck to the federation: Statement from the Turkish Volleyball Federation regarding the 'plane' crisis!

The controversy continues after the A National Women's Volleyball Team was sent on a 13-hour flight to the USA in economy class. While the national athletes expressed their reactions to Turkish Airlines (THY), the THY management passed the buck to the federation. A statement on the matter has come from the Turkish Volleyball Federation.

12punto

Our A National Women's Volleyball Team set off for the USA for the 2nd leg of the Nations League. The national athletes, who traveled on a scheduled flight in economy class, expressed their reactions to Turkish Airlines (THY).

The images of the Sultans of the Net on the plane became a hot topic on social media. 

STATEMENT FROM THY

Following the reactions, a statement came from THY. THY Press Counselor Yahya Üstün used the following expressions:

''For all our federations that our brand, which is one of the strongest sectoral supporters of sports and athletes both nationally and globally, sponsors, a certain flight plan is made at the beginning of the year, taking into account our annual flight capacity. The responsibility for all details regarding the ticketing processes carried out within this scope belongs to the relevant federations and is provided by their officials.''

AFTER THY, TVF ALSO MADE A STATEMENT

The Turkish Volleyball Federation, to which THY passed the buck, also made a statement following the events.

The following statements were included in the statement made by the TVF;

To the Public Information

Our A National Women's Volleyball team athletes and our technical team are traveling to the USA by plane today to play the second leg matches of the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League. It has become necessary to inform the public due to the statements containing expressions against our federation by THY officials regarding the flight in question, which do not reflect the truth.

Our federation cannot purchase Business Class tickets due to the regulations it is subject to. Before the US trip in question, on 17.05.2024, our delegation's travel list was shared with THY both in writing and verbally, and support was requested specifically regarding cabin upgrades. 

THY informed us that, upon our request, there is a right to cabin upgrades for only 20 people throughout the entire year for all of TVF's activities, depending on aircraft availability, and that this process could be carried out according to availability before the flight. On our team's flight on 26.05.2024, no one from our team delegation benefited from the cabin upgrade right.

The contract between THY and our federation is within the scope of a barter agreement and does not include monetary payment. All rights in the contract are used as flight tickets in our federation's activities. 

As a result; no cabin upgrade process was performed for any ticket on the flight in question, and our flight list was shared with Turkish Airlines officials on 17.05.2024, as evidenced by e-mails, contrary to the statements made by Turkish Airlines officials. It is not possible to accept the statements made that are contrary to the truth. 

Regards,

Turkish Volleyball Federation