From Thessaloniki to Riyadh!

Last year, on November 10, we visited the birthplace of the Great Leader Atatürk in Thessaloniki with Pegasus Airlines. It was a one-day trip, and we were supposed to return in the evening. We were chatting in front of the restaurant where we had dinner with Pegasus Airlines CEO Güliz Öztürk. She looked at me and said,
“Emre, you look very tired.”

I replied,
“Ms. Güliz, I’m leaving from here and heading to Saudi Arabia.”

Unlike my fellow journalist friends, I wouldn’t be going home to rest. I had a Riyadh flight in the early hours of the morning.

November 10 fell on a weekend. Schools were closed, and it was one of the busiest days for airports. After that exhausting and intense schedule, I returned at night from Sabiha Gökçen Airport to my organization’s headquarters in Taksim, slept at my desk for just one hour, and then headed to Istanbul Airport.

A busy pace can be a good thing. It clears your mind, keeps negative thoughts away, and helps you stay mentally sharp. But when the tempo becomes too intense, it can also wear you down and make you lose your joy for life. Balance is essential.

In short, I landed in Riyadh for the unveiling of the new terminal at King Khalid International Airport. From there, we went straight to the press conference venue. Story after story… as if I were a CNN International correspondent.

I worked all day without sleep. We covered the news, toured the terminal, and later joined our fellow economy journalists for a city tour. The group was great, and the conversations were genuinely enjoyable.

After resting that night, I finally felt human again the next day. I asked the PR team who had brought us there,
“I’d like to stay longer and do city filming. Is there any chance you could arrange a car for me?”

But there was no clear response; they kept avoiding the question.

That same day, Riyadh was hosting one of the aviation world’s major gatherings: Saudia Airports Exhibition (SAE) 2024, welcoming key global aviation and airport industry players. One of the most important speakers was Ali Bora İşbulan, Deputy CEO of Plaza Premium Group. Before his speech, I explained the situation to him.

“Emre, I’ll tell the team, we’ll support you immediately,” he said.

That’s what family means.

I then called Resul Akkuş, Saudi Arabia–Jeddah Operations Manager (and a very old friend from my days as a reporter at Atatürk Airport).

Resul immediately made things happen. The next morning, Omar Bakhsh, Plaza Premium Group Riyadh Sales & Marketing Manager, came to my hotel.

I told Omar that I wanted to shoot city footage. He designed such a well-thought-out route that, honestly, it was the first time I’d seen an executive who truly understood television production.

What I’m trying to say is this:
The people who bring you to a country for coverage may leave you on your own, but the companies and leaders you consider family can save your entire experience abroad.

…

Three days ago, I attended the now-traditional annual New Year event of Plaza Premium Group. It felt like being at home.

A Message from Hong Kong

Plaza Premium Group CEO Song Hoi See, who joined the event via video message from Hong Kong, thanked all business partners and participants who contribute to the success of the PPG family, emphasizing the importance of global collaboration and solidarity.

A New Lounge at ISG

Speaking at the event, Ali Bora İşbulan, Deputy CEO of Plaza Premium Group, stated that the group has entered its fifth year of operations in Türkiye. As of 2025, he highlighted that Plaza Premium Group is offering not only lounge services at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, but also fast-track and premium passenger meet-and-greet services. He emphasized that this success was made possible thanks to the strong contributions of Sabiha Gökçen Airport management, airlines, business partners, and the PPG team.

“We Did What Had Never Been Done, and We Love That”

Emel Yasemin Akçay, Türkiye and Hungary Country Manager of Plaza Premium Group, said:
“We’ve worked together for many years. Sometimes we solved problems, sometimes we worked to make someone’s dream come true. Sometimes we did what had never been done, and we love that. Sometimes we negotiated, and you know I’m good at that. This is a team effort. No one can run an operation alone. Those who say ‘I did this on my own’ cannot achieve real success. If there is success here, it comes from the team.”

The evening was wonderful, as always. Emrecan Ergin, Vice President Middle East & Africa at Plaza Premium Group, and Esra Atsan, Sales & Marketing Manager, also put tremendous effort into making this special night unforgettable.

Being with them is a pleasure.
Being a family is something truly special.

Safe flights. ✈️