The situation in the Middle East and the cancellation of thousands of flights had significantly affected tourist travel, leaving many Turkish travelers stranded in the region. Among the travel agencies with the highest number of guests in Dubai was Tatilsepeti. From the very first day, the company stayed in close contact with its tour guests and arranged hotel accommodations for them. Once evacuation flights from Dubai began operating, the company quickly took action and carried out an evacuation operation to bring its guests home.
Tatilsepeti’s Director of Overseas Hotels and Tours, İbrahim Cenk Okumuş, stated that the guests returned to Sabiha Gökçen Airport on Sunday afternoon and explained the process in detail.
“When flight restrictions began in the region, our guests were unable to leave. From the first day, we maintained constant communication with them and immediately arranged hotel accommodations. We managed the process for nine days, ensuring they had a safe place to stay while keeping them informed. Although life in Dubai continued as usual, our guests naturally wanted to return to their country as soon as possible.
As soon as we heard that rescue flights had started, we began working immediately. We contacted airlines that could operate flights through alternative routes safely. For the safety and satisfaction of our guests, we decided to bring them home with these flights and initiated the evacuation operation.
Our flight was planned with Air Arabia. Normally a four-hour route, the flight took about five and a half hours due to a longer and safer path. We arranged special transfers for our passengers to travel to Abu Dhabi and board the aircraft. They flew over Saudi Arabian airspace and arrived in Türkiye on a single flight, accompanied by fighter jet protection.
The Air Arabia flight departed Abu Dhabi yesterday (Sunday) at 10:00 and landed at Sabiha Gökçen Airport at 16:00. We are very happy that our guests have finally reunited with their families and returned home safely. We thank all our guests for their patience and trust throughout this process. We hope peace and stability will return to the region and the world as soon as possible.”
Commentary:
This evacuation highlights how quickly travel agencies must react during regional crises. Tatilsepeti’s decision to arrange alternative routes and coordinate transfers from Dubai to Abu Dhabi shows the logistical challenges involved in bringing stranded tourists home. The operation also reflects the broader impact of geopolitical tensions on tourism and international travel, where sudden flight cancellations can leave thousands of travelers waiting for solutions.
