Nöbetçi Eczaneler
At Aviationext, we sat down with Derya Pekruh Gerçeker for an interview. Within the aviation industry, she’s widely regarded as a high-energy leader who always lends a helping hand, especially to young professionals. Here’s what she shared with us:
Let’s get to know you more — where were you born, and what is your family life like?
I was born in 1976 in Üsküdar, Türkiye. I’m married and have an 8-year-old daughter named Zeynep. As the Marketing and Services Manager for Türkiye at Singapore Airlines, I’m passionate about aviation, nature, and people. I also practiced Turkish folk dance for 13 years and even served as a regional coach for the Kars region. What brings me the most joy? Helping others find jobs and spending time with my family and children.
Can you tell us about how you started in aviation and the companies you’ve worked for?
I began my aviation career on August 14, 1995, as an Information Desk Agent at Atatürk Airport with STFA. Just two and a half months later, I joined Havaş Ground Services as a Passenger Services Agent. Then on December 1, 1998, I started working for Singapore Airlines, again in passenger services. Over the past 26 years, I’ve held roles such as Sales Development Officer, Digital Sales Executive, and Marketing Coordinator. Today, I serve as the Manager of Marketing and Services for Türkiye.
When was your first time flying on an aircraft?
In April 1998, I took my very first flight with Swissair on a flight from Istanbul to Zurich. I thought I’d be terrified, but a friend who sat next to me kept chatting the entire time, especially during takeoff, and it helped me stay calm. In fact, I ended up loving it. Since then, flying has been something I truly enjoy.
What’s the most unforgettable moment you’ve experienced in aviation?
This happened back in 1996, during my time at Havaş. As Passenger Services Agents, we were responsible for relaying information about passengers, their pets, and baggage to the operations team. One summer day, I forgot to mention that a dog, belonging to a passenger on a Sabena (Belgium) flight, was being transported in the aircraft’s cargo hold.
After work, I went home, and at 2 a.m., I suddenly woke up in a panic, remembering I hadn’t passed on the dog’s information. Neither I nor the operations colleague had a mobile phone at the time, so I frantically called the Havaş office in tears, asking, “Is the dog alive?” After the confusion settled and I explained the situation, they assured me the operations team had already informed the crew about the pet and everything was fine.
I’ll never forget that night. Since then, I double- and triple-check anything related to live animal transport.
How did you manage during the COVID-19 period?
We worked from home for about 26 months during the pandemic. I’m deeply grateful to our company, no one was laid off, and we all worked hard to find passengers and cargo opportunities to keep Singapore Airlines flights coming into Istanbul.
By August 2020, we managed to resume our first scheduled service. It was a time full of anxiety, both personally and professionally. We constantly asked ourselves, What more can I do for my family and my company? I never want to relive those days, but they taught us so much about resilience, crisis management, and the importance of teamwork.
What do you hope to see in the future of aviation?
I hope for a future where sustainable technology, new-generation aircraft, and AI-driven systems make even intercontinental flights incredibly fast. I’d love to see a day when long airport procedures, like security checks and passport control, are minimized, and the world becomes more accessible for everyone.
Who are the women leaders who inspire you?
When I first started at Havaş, my supervisor, Sibel Taş, was an incredible role model, meticulous, hard-working, and instrumental in my growth. Today, I greatly admire Güliz Öztürk. I’ve known her for about 20 years; she climbed the ranks with dedication and is now a shining example of what a woman leader can achieve.
But most of all, I’m deeply inspired by Raymonde de Laroche, the world’s first licensed female pilot. Despite all the technical and social challenges she faced in the early 1900s, she kept pushing forward, even after accidents. Her story of perseverance and passion makes her one of the most valuable role models in my life.
