Turkmenistan Airlines
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"I can’t recommend this airline"
I decided to use this airline because it was cheap and the journey wasn't too long. Normally, I am very understanding and not picky when it comes to airlines, but after this experience, I won’t use this airline again. My flight to Bangkok, originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon, was changed to 7 AM the next day, and I was told the flight would take 7 hours longer. However, I wouldn't receive a replacement as the flight would still arrive on time—just earlier. I wasn’t thrilled but accepted it. On the way back, my flight to Germany, scheduled for Sunday at noon, was postponed to Monday, which caused problems as I had to work the next day. I contacted the airline multiple times without any response. I eventually informed my boss that I would arrive on Tuesday. Then, on Friday, I received an email saying the flight would depart on Saturday at 4 AM. This caused a lot of stress since I wasn’t checking my emails regularly during my vacation. I had already paid for a hostel I wouldn’t even sleep in. To make matters worse, when I went to check-in, I discovered that my new ticket was for Istanbul, not Frankfurt. The counter staff refused to help, and after a long discussion, I spoke to his boss who also insisted I book and pay for the missing leg of the flight myself. I was not confident in their promise to reimburse me, so I went to the Turkmenistan Airlines office, where they didn’t speak much English. I then went to Istanbul, where, fortunately, a very kind staff member helped me by booking the last flight to Frankfurt. This was the only positive experience in this entire ordeal. Despite the stress, I received no apology from the airline, even though I contacted many people from Turkmenistan Airlines.
"Turkmenistan Business experience!"
I recently flew with Turkmenistan Airlines and had a disappointing experience. Check-in was handled by a third-party service, with no clear indication of which check-in desk was for economy or business class. Despite having a business class ticket, I was not granted access to the business class lounges near the gate. Boarding was also confusing, with no designated lanes for economy or business class passengers. The aircraft was a 777-300ER, owned by Cathay Pacific and produced in 2012. Unfortunately, the seat controls for my seat were broken, preventing it from reclining or lying flat. Several other passengers faced the same issue, and although the staff tried to manually adjust the seats, not all could be fixed. Since the flight was fully booked, there were no other available seats to relocate to. The food was generous but bland, which is not what you’d expect from business class. Our connection in Ashgabat was scheduled for two hours but was unexpectedly extended to 5 1/2 hours, with no explanation provided. Additionally, due to internet restrictions in Turkmenistan, there was no Wi-Fi available at the airport. On the second leg, we boarded a fully booked Boeing 777-200LR with outdated business class seats, though at least my seat controls worked, allowing me to sleep. The food and in-flight entertainment were again underwhelming. While the pricing is cheaper compared to other carriers, I would not recommend flying business class with them again.
"Worst experience"
I had the worst experience ever with this airline. The crew was rude, and the customer service was absolutely terrible. The food was not good, and I honestly wonder why the EU permits this airline to operate. It was a frustrating and disappointing journey from start to finish.
"Horrible!!! 24hours of delay"
The worst experience ever! My flight was 24 hours late, and not even a small refund was offered. Avoid this scam of a company at all costs—they always have some kind of issue. You can easily find a much better option for the same price or even cheaper with a well-known, reputable airline.
"Shame!!!!!"
It's incredible that even a budget airline like Air Arabia provides wheelchair assistance for free, yet this company charges an outrageous 220 USD for the service, which must be paid in cash—making it untraceable. This is such a shame! All other airlines around the world offer this service at no extra cost, and yet this airline chooses to pocket the money instead. Once again, SHAME on them!
"Perfect flight"
"A beautiful flight from Minsk to Bangkok. We were very satisfied with the journey. The planes were excellent, and the stewards did a wonderful job. The food was plentiful, and soft drinks were unlimited, which made the experience even more enjoyable. Ashgabat airport left a good impression, although it’s still not very busy. Overall, a fantastic trip!"
"short hope"
"Nice airplane, but the food wasn't great. Seats were okay, no entertainment onboard. If possible, get an aisle seat – it makes the experience better."
"They are trying to improve, but…"
No business lounge access at Domodedovo Airport, unlike Ashgabat where noticeable improvements were made. Check-in was inefficient—economy class checked in faster than business, and one boarding pass was issued with the wrong name. The aircraft (B737-800) was modern and clean. While business class offered more legroom and wider seats, the service and food were nearly identical to economy—no alcohol, and the same meal options. The flight attendant was well-intentioned but lacked proper training in business-class service standards.
"Visit to “City of Love”-Asgabat"
Ashgabat truly lives up to its nickname, the “City of Love.” It’s an exceptionally clean, pollution-free, and well-planned city filled with greenery and striking modern architecture. The atmosphere is calm and cheerful, with educated, friendly, and welcoming residents. Traffic is orderly and controlled, and the city is never overcrowded. One of the most impressive aspects is the egalitarian culture—no VIP security, no reserved seats at public events, and everything runs on a “first come, first served” basis. The officers and public figures are down-to-earth and time-conscious, reflecting a disciplined and efficient office culture. Turkmen people have a deep affection for Indian culture, enjoying Bollywood films, Indian food, textiles, and fashion. At the same time, Turkmenistan is proud of its rich heritage, especially its world-famous carpets and beautiful handicrafts. Ashgabat is not just modern and self-sufficient, but also deeply connected to its cultural roots—a hidden gem worth experiencing.
"Better than expected"
I flew from Bangkok to Almaty with a stopover in Ashgabat, and to be honest, I was initially skeptical. The ticket price was significantly cheaper—almost half the cost compared to Air Astana—which made me a bit wary. A week before the flight, I reached out to the airline's customer service via VK.com (in Russian) to ask a few questions. Unfortunately, the responses were quite rude and unhelpful, and I couldn’t find any alternative contact method. That experience left me with low expectations. However, the actual flight was much better than anticipated. While our departure was delayed by 30 minutes, we landed in Almaty earlier than scheduled. The in-flight service also exceeded my expectations. On the Bangkok to Ashgabat leg, we were served two full meals with choices of meat, chicken, or fish, along with sandwiches, dessert, and even Thai fruits—something I didn’t expect from a budget-friendly ticket. I arrived in Ashgabat feeling full and well taken care of. On the second leg, from Ashgabat to Almaty, we were served one meal, which was again sufficient and satisfying. The first aircraft was spacious with good legroom, while the second was smaller and more compact. Overall, the flight experience itself deserves 5 stars, but I’m deducting a point for the poor customer service experience before the trip. If Turkmenistan Airlines can improve their customer support, they could really be a strong low-cost competitor on this route.
"Ok"
The flight was just okay—not terrible, but far from great. The service from the flight attendants left a lot to be desired; they seemed uninterested and not particularly friendly, which isn’t ideal for a long journey. There was also no in-flight entertainment, making the trip feel even longer. Overall, it wasn't a pleasant experience and I wouldn’t choose this airline again for a long-haul flight.
"Reasonable, short flight"
We took this flight to avoid an 8-hour car ride to Ashgabat, and it was a solid choice. The flight lasted about 1 hour and 15 minutes, departed and arrived on time, and offered adequate legroom. While there was no meal service, a beverage cart did make its way through the cabin. One thing to note: there are separate fares for residents and nonresidents, which is understandable given that the airline is government-subsidized. At the time of our travel, booking online wasn’t possible—we couldn’t even view the schedule—so we had to rely on a Turkmen travel agent to handle the arrangements. All in all, the flight was unremarkable but efficient—comparable to most short domestic flights in the U.S.
"old but fine"
It wasn’t the best flight, mainly because of the lack of in-flight entertainment, but overall it was quite good. I’ve definitely flown on worse airlines. Honestly, I don’t think this airline deserves such a low ranking. With a few improvements and more openness, it has real potential to do very well. Check-in was superb—hassle-free and efficient. That part alone stood out as brilliant.
"Excellent price"
Turkmenistan Airlines offers very competitive prices across all routes. I had a good experience flying with them—overall, a pleasant and budget-friendly option for travel.
"love this airline"
I've been flying to Amritsar twice a year since 2004 and have tried many airlines, but for the past five years, I've chosen to fly exclusively with Turkmenistan Airlines. The food is consistently good, and while the service could use some improvement, the overall experience keeps me coming back.
Turkmenistan Airlines
Turkmenistan Airlines (Turkmen: Türkmenistan awiakompaniýasy, commonly known as Türkmenhowaýollary) is the flag carrier and only airline of Turkmenistan, with its headquarters in Ashgabat. The airline is an open joint-stock company and primarily operates domestic and international passenger and cargo services. Its main hub is located at Ashgabat International Airport.
Address
Hero of Turkmenistan Atamyrat Nyýazow Avenue, 326 in Ashgabat
Website
https://turkmenistanairlines.tm/
Email
[email protected]
Telephone
+993 (12) 23-49-25