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BARIG Welcomes Freebird Airlines as Newest Member

The Board of Airlines Representatives in German has today announced that Türkiye-based Freebird Airlines has become the association’s newest commercial airline member.


Freebird Airlines Airbus A320 - Courtesy BARIG
Freebird Airlines Airbus A320 - Courtesy BARIG

On Wednesday (June 3, 2026), The Board of Airline Representatives in Germany (BARIG) announced that Türkiye-based Freebird Airlines has become the association’s newest commercial airline member.  Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, Freebird Airlines operates in over 120 destinations together with their Malta-registered sister company, Freebird Airlines Europe.  The Freebird Airlines Group, which offers flights from 16 airports across Germany to a number of popular holiday destinations, including Antalya, Crete and Fuerteventura, operates a fleet of 14 Airbus A320 Family aircraft.


In Wednesday’s announcement, BARIG’s Chairman and Executive Director, Michael Hoppe, said,


“With Freebird Airlines, we welcome another airline in the holiday flight segment with a strong commitment to Germany.  The German travel market has traditionally been robust, but it is currently also under pressure from high state-imposed location costs.  Therefore, together with our airlines and other associations, we are actively striving to improve general framework conditions.”


Also commenting on the airline’s new BARIG membership, Freebird Airlines’ Managing Director, Selim Tükenmez, added,


“Germany is one of the important source markets for us.  We have been present in this market since our foundation and have built strong expertise over the years.  Today, we are leveraging this experience to maintain a competitive position in both charter and scheduled flight operations.  Hence, the opportunity to discuss current industry issues within the airline community as well as the insights provided by BARIG are of great interest to us.”


BARIG Chairman and Executive Director Michael Hoppe (fifth from the left) and the team of Freebird Airlines are looking forward to the exchange. Personal meeting at the ITB Berlin 2026, the world’s leading travel trade fair – Courtesy BARIG
BARIG Chairman and Executive Director Michael Hoppe (fifth from the left) and the team of Freebird Airlines are looking forward to the exchange. Personal meeting at the ITB Berlin 2026, the world’s leading travel trade fair – Courtesy BARIG

Freebird Airlines is a member of Gözen Holding, which has been active in the aviation sector for more than 45 years in areas such as representation, fuel supply, supervision, brokerage, safety and training.  Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, Freebird Airlines operates as an international leisure carrier with registrations in both Turkey and Malta. Together with Freebird Airlines Europe, the airline operates a fleet of 14 Airbus A320 Family aircraft.  In 2002, Freebird became the first airline in Turkey to receive the ISO 9001:2000 certification from TÜV Rheinland.  In July 2006, they also became the first charter airline to obtain the IOSA registration issued by International Air Transport Association (IATA).


Founded in 1951, Frankfurt am Main-based BARIG (Board of Airline Representatives in Germany e.V.) represents over 100 national and international airlines in the scheduled, charter, low cost and air cargo sectors.  The association works to improve conditions in the aviation industry in Germany and is the key industry contact for politics, authorities, industry and media.



Source: BARIG/Claasen Communication

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