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To which foreign country and for what purpose did you fly the last time? CAHİT BERKAY: 10 months ago we travelled to Berlin as a group to give a concert. And shortly before that I flew to Nice as a member of the MESAM (Musical Work Owners’ Society of Turkey) board of directors. KANAT ATKAYA: In October, 2009 I travelled to Zagreb to the U2 concert. Can you describe the spirit of international terminals, where passengers from all over the world spend their time together? What do you think is the common feature of international terminals and those who are passing through them? CAHİT BERKAY: To begin with, it is obvious that the whole world is there. Different clothes, different people… You have a feeling as if you are sharing the world. There is no racial or gender discrimination. You sit and see a Pakistani or American etc. beside you. You really feel as through you are a part of the world. I think international terminals are very interesting. But after September 11, during one of my trips I had to wait for 10 hours at Vienna Airport. First, they told us we had to wait for six hours, but then they added four more hours. I can say that these were the worst 10 hours of my life. We passed the time drinking coffee and sleeping. KANAT ATKAYA: The international terminal of Atatürk Airport is a very good terminal. I go there early, complete the procedures on time and do not have any problems with passing my time there. If you have time, you can even have a little chat with people sitting in the bar. Generally, the international terminal has a vacation atmosphere. It does not get spoilt even when people travel for business purposes. I do not think that international terminals are boring even if I have to wait for long hours. What do you like doing after passing through passport control and before heading to the gate, from where the aircraft takes off? CAHİT BERKAY: Almost all of my flights are in the early morning hours. I have my own routine: Just after passing passport control I go and buy su böreği (water pastry) with coffee and read my newspaper. Of course, I also walk around the duty free shops. KANAT ATKAYA: If it is an airport that I am familiar with, I have certain habits. For instance, at Atatürk Airport I visit Beerport. In fact, it is now an airport modified much better than it was before. I do not walk around the shops a lot, but I look through the periodicals. And if it is an airport I do not know, I try to explore it, find a suitable place like a café-bar and read my periodicals here. One of the most appealing features of travelling abroad is shopping in Duty Free stores. What do you prefer purchasing from Duty Free the most? What did you buy the last time? CAHİT BERKAY: I enjoy walking around stationery or souvenir shops. On my way back I buy myself drinks and cigarettes. When departing I buy rakı or lokum for my friends depending on their likes. The last time I bought whisky for myself. KANAT ATKAYA: From Duty Free shops I purchase harmful substances, i.e. alcoholic drinks like wine and whisky, and things like cigars. The last time I bought whisky (Macallan). If your flight is delayed and you have to spend the night in a terminal, which airport in Turkey would you prefer? And which airport in the world would it be? CAHİT BERKAY: I would definitely prefer Atatürk Airport. Due to my age, I also know what the old terminal was like. The current one is much more interesting. In fact, I have always loved travelling by air. Years ago we were going to travel to Brussels with Cem Karaca for Barış Manço’s anniversary. A snowstorm started on our way to the airport, the flights were delayed and Cem and I began waiting in an American bar. We had to wait for six hours in the terminal and two hours on the plane. With Cem, it was an interesting way to pass time. He was a very chatty friend and I did not even notice how the time passed. I always travel with our musical group and due to this delays are not a big problem. I cannot think of an airport in the world where I would prefer waiting, because in many of them the passages are divided. It gives the feeling as if they want to say “Pass as quick as possible and leave.” KANAT ATKAYA: In Turkey I would prefer Atatürk Airport. Abroad, for instance, I can choose London Heathrow Airport. More and more I like airports where smoking is allowed, though their number is decreasing. I also like airports in Amsterdam and Frankfurt. If you were asked to choose a destination and told “Tomorrow you will have your visa and fly with an airline of your choice,” where would you prefer to travel and with which airlines? CAHİT BERKAY: I would definitely choose THY. I would like to go to Dubai followed by Hong Kong, Singapore or Sydney. KANAT ATKAYA: I would fly to London with THY. |
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