meaningful reminder of that once-in-a-lifetime experience. My Worst memory ? The worst flight I can remember was also one of the most frightening experiences I’ve had. Back in the day, British Airways used to decorate the front windows of travel agencies (especially those facing the street) with seasonal BA branding. As a Sales Executive at the time, I was often tasked with accompanying the representative from London who came to oversee these displays.On that particular day, we were headed to Izmir to visit an agency with a shopfront on one of the main streets.
stepping into. By our second year of membership, I had been elected to the APG Board of Directors. And for the past 12 years, I’ve been serving as the Vice-President for the Europe region.It was founded with a spirit of unity by Jean-Louis Baroux, and has grown with a deep sense of humanity and purpose under his daughter, Sandrine de Saint Sauveur, and of course, our current president Richard Burgess. Imagine building a global network, and having friends all over the world. At APG, you’re not just doing business; you’re surrounded by a powerful sense of support and belonging.
It was raining in Istanbul, but nothing too alarming, just typical seasonal weather. When we received our boarding passes, something caught my attention. We had been assigned seats side by side in row 13. Now, 13 is not an unlucky number
“THE STRENGHT OF APG AS NEVER BEEN JUST ABOUT SYSTEMS : IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT PEOPLE”
Jean-Emmanuel Hay: Can you tell us about an event that particularly impressed you at APG?
Ferzan Unlusoy: Over the years, I’ve collected many memories through my time at APG. But the most emotional one was when I received the President’s Award from Jean- Louis Baroux himself. I’ve received many awards throughout my career, but that one reminded me just how meaningful recognition can be. It wasn’t just an award, it was a deeply personal moment of being seen and appreciated. Jean-Emmanuel Hay: What is your vision of the future of the APG network ? Ferzan Unlusoy: My vision for the future of the APG Network is shaped by both my local experience and my global perspective. Having spent many years within APG (and now serving as the Vice-President for Europe) I’ve seen first-hand how powerful our network can be when local expertise is combined with international collaboration. Looking ahead, I believe APG should continue to evolve as a strategic partner for airlines, especially in emerging and dynamic markets like Türkiye. Our value lies not only in our global presence, but in our ability to offer tailor-made solutions that reflect the cultural and commercial realities of each region. I also see great potential in expanding our technological capabilities (particularly in the areas of NDC, data intelligence, and digital distribution) but always with a human touch. My hope is that we continue to grow not just in size, but in influence, and remain a trusted, innovative, and deeply human organization that airlines around the world can rely on.
for me, quite the opposite, in fact. My second son was born on December 13th, so it’s actually a meaningful number to me. But for my colleague from London, it clearly wasn’t the same. He noticed it right away and even asked to switch seats, but the flight was full, so we had to stay where we were. The flight began normally, but as we approached Izmir, the weather took a turn for the worse. Turbulence became severe. Overhead compartments began to pop open, and cabin bags were falling to the floor. People were screaming, clearly panicked and unsure of what was happening. At that moment, all I could do was pray for a safe landing, and thankfully, we did touch down safely. But I must admit, it was one of the few flights in my life where I genuinely felt scared.
Jean-Emmanuel Hay: How did your first steps with APG go?
Ferzan Unlusoy: As I said, it all began with a single phone call : on the other end of the line somebody was introducing APG and expressing their interest in working with our local GSA company. We accepted the offer in principle and soon found myself attending APG’s annual meeting, which that year was held within IATA’s headquarters in Geneva. It was in 2008. To be honest, that first meeting was mostly about trying to understand what APG actually did. At the time, we didn’t offer nearly as many products or services as we do today.When I returned to Türkiye, I made a personal commitment: I would learn every term, every code, and every process that was mentioned at that meeting. I wanted to truly understand the world I was
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BORN TO BE A BIRD BY CLASS & RELAX
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