Aviation Turkey: Founded on June 6, 1994, and now celebrating 30 years, Hitit has grown into a global brand, exporting to 49 countries. Could you share the story of this remarkable 30-year success journey with us?

Nevra Onursal Karaağaç: Hitit was founded by two female executives who, with years of experience in the aviation industry, believed they could develop more innovative technology and address key gaps in the sector. By reinforcing its belief in Türkiye's young, visionary minds and the creativity rooted in these lands through a productive and growing team, Hitit provides solution-oriented, smart, reliable, and creative services and solutions for airline and travel industry players focused on growth and transformation. We position ourselves as a role model in sustaining the airline and travel industries through intelligent technologies, and we're proud to have become the world's third-largest technology company in our field today.

Looking back, I'd say our first major milestone on this journey was Crane FF. In 1999, we launched Crane FF (Frequent Flyer), the first loyalty solution specifically tailored for the aviation sector, and by 2012, it had become the world's most widely adopted solution of its kind. Crane FF brought Hitit recognition across the industry, and we've since continued expanding our Crane solutions portfolio to deliver next-generation technology and software to companies—especially airlines—in the air transportation and travel sectors. Hitit now exports commercial airline applications such as passenger services, operations, accounting, cargo, travel merchandising worldwide through its software-as-a-service model, providing solutions and services to airlines of all sizes, from the smallest carriers to the largest.

 Aviation Turkey: As Türkiye's rising star in airline and travel IT solutions, Hitit serves clients with a team of over 400, primarily based in Istanbul, Pakistan, and the Netherlands, with additional locations worldwide. Could you please give us some information about your goals and expectations for the year 2025 with the new offices, both in terms of the number of staff and the organization? 

Nevra Onursal Karaağaç: As you mentioned, we operate with a team of over 400 employees, approximately 70% of whom are engineers. Our headquarters is based at İTÜ Teknokent in Istanbul, and we also have teams in Pakistan and the Netherlands. With local representatives worldwide, we stay closely aligned with the airline and travel sectors, adapting to regional dynamics. Our teams at headquarters, along with those in the Netherlands and Pakistan and our local representatives, all work together seamlessly. We've established a remarkable balance by thoughtfully crafting this harmony and blending it with Hitit's unique team spirit. This team spirit and balance are what set us apart, driving success and consistent growth in our industry.

Our company has successfully navigated key milestones, including the pandemic and our IPO achievements that have elevated Hitit to a leading position in Türkiye and globally. As you know, we are now the second-largest reservation systems provider in Europe and the third-largest worldwide. Thirty years ago, when two female entrepreneurs set out with the goal to "develop airline technology and sell it to the world," it may not have garnered much attention. But today, beyond establishing a prominent name in the industry, we have become a force to trigger change with a vision, innovative strength, and business development capacity that drive transformation across the sector. 

Our strength was further solidified in 2022 with the addition of our investors through our IPO, which reinforced our dynamic growth. We are in a financially strong position and will continue investing, supported by solid cash flow. We aim to make 2025 a year where we especially strengthen our R&D efforts through investments and share Hitit's developments and innovations with the global airline and travel community at major international events. In parallel, we plan to expand our ecosystem with new partnerships.

 Aviation Turkey: As Türkiye's first civil airline and travel technology company, you currently provide software-as-a-service to 75 partners across 49 countries on six continents, with Hitit's technologies now in use at over 750 airports worldwide. Could you share more about the primary products and services that Hitit offers to its clients (partners)? We'd also love to hear about recent developments in your global user profile and portfolio, including updates on your solutions and any new clients joining your network. Have additional countries or clients recently been added to these figures?

Nevra Onursal Karaağaç: One of the most remarkable factors that has established Hitit as a global brand is its ability to develop software that covers the full 360-degree scope of airline operations. We offer nearly 30 different software solutions under key categories such as Passenger Service Systems, Operations Planning, Travel Solutions, Merchandising, Cargo, and Accounting. This comprehensive range of solutions is unmatched by any single technology provider globally, giving us a unique and distinguished position in the industry.

Let's take a closer look at Hitit's current position through these figures. As you mentioned, we serve 75 airlines across 49 countries on six continents. Thanks to new partner acquisitions and integration efforts tailored to the evolving needs of our existing partners, the Crane solution platform now operates worldwide, connecting with over 75 banking and payment system infrastructures, more than 750 airports, and the customs and border systems of 85 countries.

Additionally, our partner airlines do not adhere to a specific business model; we can provide the same high-quality service to both startups and legacy carriers. If you look at our portfolio, you'll notice a significant number of flag carrier airlines. One of Hitit's distinguishing features is that, in terms of both technology and customer satisfaction, our partners often recommend us through word-of-mouth. This is an incredibly proud achievement for any company. For example, despite differing regional dynamics, we currently work with four airlines in Romania and six in Nigeria. The most widely used aviation software in these countries is Hitit's Crane solutions. This illustrates how we continue to grow horizontally within existing markets while also opening doors to new ones.

We have new partners that we haven't disclosed yet, but as a publicly traded company, I cannot name them without their permission until certain procedures are completed. However, I want to emphasize that our expansion will continue in new markets, as well as in personnel and software solutions. We are moving forward with confidence and plan to sustain this growth trend into 2025.

Aviation Turkey: As artificial intelligence-based systems become more integrated into our daily lives, you are undoubtedly focusing on the new technologies that will emerge in the coming years. In this regard, what can you share about the new solutions and technologies you are developing and showcasing in the field of artificial intelligence (AI)?

Nevra Onursal Karaağaç: The innovations we've introduced in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are a direct result of our increased R&D investments following our IPO in 2022. Throughout this process, we have refined AI models trained on real data from pilot customers among our partner airlines, launching pilot applications in critical areas such as revenue management, dynamic pricing, and supply optimization. The initial results have been impressive, with our dynamic pricing systems achieving up to 95% success rates.

These achievements are evident not only in operational processes like revenue management and pricing but also in our functional modules, including rule-based inventory management, loyalty management, and group and value management.

Aviation Turkey: As a company that consistently increases its R&D investments, what portion of your budget has been allocated to R&D in 2024? We observe that companies are placing significant emphasis on artificial intelligence in this area. How are you collaborating with companies that specialize in this field? Considering that artificial intelligence is expected to be used more widely in all aspects of our lives in the future, what is your strategy for moving forward? In your view, particularly in the airline and travel sectors, will the rise of artificial intelligence pose a risk of unemployment for workers in these fields, or will it enable them to acquire new skills?

Nevra Onursal Karaağaç: We collaborate with suppliers specializing in artificial intelligence to enhance our AI-driven dynamic pricing capabilities. Additionally, as part of our omnichannel strategy, we aim to provide equal opportunities across all sales channels. Our AI-powered solutions will be integrated into our travel solutions, enabling broader implementation across various operational areas, while our efforts to develop new AI models will continue to progress rapidly.

Artificial intelligence is driving significant transformation in the air transport and travel sectors, and we can confidently say that this transformation will create new opportunities rather than lead to unemployment. AI and automation will enhance operational efficiency while elevating human creativity, strategy, and problem-solving skills. This shift will not only lead to the emergence of new job roles but also empower existing positions with new skills.

Companies like us are developing new solutions in areas such as AI-driven dynamic pricing and revenue management throughout this transformation process. These solutions not only enable more efficient utilization of human resources but also encourage employees to build skills in areas like technical expertise and strategic thinking. By automating routine tasks, artificial intelligence frees people from repetitive work, allowing them to take on more creative and complex roles. I believe the future will be built on an ecosystem where artificial intelligence and human labor work in harmony, leading to more opportunities for continuous learning and development. As professionals in the airline and travel sectors adapt to these new skills, they will be able to create stronger and more innovative solutions alongside AI.

 Aviation Turkey: Your systems can also be used in maritime and rail transport. As these sectors grow alongside aviation, can we expect to see more concrete projects from you in these areas in the near future?

Nevra Onursal Karaağaç: Hitit is a travel technology company that serves not only airlines but also partners across various segments, including airport ground service providers, major travel agencies, and tour operators. Within this broad service range, we have strong overlapping capabilities in areas like reservation and sales management, and we regularly engage with companies from different regions worldwide. For example, our award-winning product, Crane PAX, is a comprehensive reservation system offered as part of our Passenger Service Systems (PSS) portfolio.

As a fully web-based PSS, Crane PAX offers an extensive solution that includes inventory management, fare management, marketing tools, central reservations, online and mobile booking and ticketing, allotment, departure control, and call center services. Designed with the same versatility, our software solutions can also support both maritime and rail transport, as demonstrated by our previous collaboration with IDO (Istanbul Fast Ferries Co. Inc.). Similarly, suppose TCDD (Turkish State Railways) were to modernize its railway systems. In that case, we would also be a strong candidate for that project.

 Aviation Turkey: In our last interview with you in 2023, you mentioned that nearly 37% of your total workforce was women. Over the past year, how has this percentage changed? You also shared plans to provide technology training to support young women across various provinces in Türkiye. What training initiatives have you implemented so far as part of your social responsibility project, and what are your plans for 2025 and beyond?

Nevra Onursal Karaağaç: Compared to last year, we have seen an increase, even if only by 1%. Currently, 38% of our total workforce is female, and I'm proud to say that we are a company committed to achieving gender balance—particularly within the technology and aviation sectors, where this remains a challenge. I'm also pleased to share that women now hold the majority of leadership roles in our organization. Half of our Board of Directors is female, and of our nine senior executives, including the Chairman of the Board and the CEO, five are women.

Additionally, we are a signatory of IATA's 25by2025 initiative, a global campaign aimed at increasing gender equality in aviation. The primary goal of IATA's 25by2025 initiative is to raise the proportion of women in senior management and technical roles to 25% by 2025. As a company that has long surpassed the industry's gender balance targets, we place great importance on gender equality. Beyond setting an example for equal opportunities in the workplace in both Türkiye and globally, we reflect this approach in our internal HR practices and actively take on responsibilities through NGOs. We support women's education in STEM through various associations and platforms, prioritize young women in internships and hiring, and contribute to their development through mentorship and scholarship opportunities. We are also proud supporters of the "100 Women Leaders in Technology in the 100th Year of the Republic" project launched by wTech, through which we will provide young women in STEM with enhanced education and mentorship. Additionally, through our sports initiative, ''Rackets Up'' we work to ensure equal access to sports for both girls and boys. All of these projects will continue to gain momentum in the coming years.

Aviation Turkey: Given that the aviation sector cannot thrive without technology, and as one of the world's leading technology companies in airline software, what new software or technologies is Hitit developing to support the aviation industry's goal of reaching zero emissions by 2050?

Nevra Onursal Karaağaç: Climate change, a global issue, impacts all living beings on our planet. We are aware of the economic and commercial risks it may bring and are taking concrete actions to mitigate these effects.

Hitit is developing digital solutions that allow airlines to monitor and optimize their carbon emissions. Our Crane Cost Accounting (Crane.CA) solution includes carbon emissions tracking and optimization functions that are aligned with the CORSIA guidelines developed by ICAO. These features enable our partners to accurately forecast emissions and minimize them through optimal fleet and aircraft allocation, route planning, and scheduling. This approach allows airlines to proactively reduce their environmental footprint and contribute to the aviation industry's sustainability goals. Crane.CA incorporates a range of features aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the aviation sector in which Hitit operates.

Aviation Turkey: As Türkiye's largest exporter of aviation technologies, what kinds of international events does Hitit organize for representatives of global airlines and travel companies to introduce further innovations to the aviation sector, increase brand recognition, and drive growth in new markets?

Nevra Onursal Karaağaç: International events are crucial for our industry. Since airline and travel are sectors that naturally transcend borders, industry players can establish business connections worldwide, underscoring the importance of international fairs and conferences. We participate in nearly all conferences organized by IATA, where we have been a strategic member for 16 years. Additionally, we attend events hosted by leading aviation organizations such as ICAO, ERA, PATA, ALTA, and AFRAA, as well as conferences held by key industry evaluators like CAPA and T2RL and events organized by sector stakeholders like ATPCO and APG. We also participate in flagship trade shows like the World Aviation Festival.

Beyond this, although it is technically an internal, closed event, our Hitit Partner's Event has become a signature gathering in our industry. This event allows us to explore digital transformation in aviation from all angles while promoting Türkiye, bringing together hundreds of aviation professionals from dozens of countries, with participation growing each year. The Hitit Partner's Event creates a lasting impact throughout the year, enabling us to host long-standing and new partners, as well as potential partner airlines. It has truly become our signature event, receiving highly positive feedback for its contributions to sales.