Turkish Airlines is a rising force in the European and Middle East aviation industry, attracting the interest of investors, and rivals. This successful fast-growing airline is not only increasing its size when its European counterparts are struggling to keep afloat in depressed European economy, but it is generating increasing profits. Turkish Airlines (THY) reported the third largest net profit and seventh largest operating profits in the aviation industry in 2009. Turkish Airlines revenues and profits are expected to increase with a stock surging 425%. Turkish airlines (THY), Turkey’s national flag carrier, began its services 78 years ago as part of the ministry of defense , with 5 aircrafts and today has 169 (both passenger and cargo) aircrafts. Turkish Airlines is still under state control but offered 25% of the airline to the public as part of its market liberalization and privatization plan. Headquartered at the Turkish Airlines General Management Building on the grounds of Atatürk Airport in Yeşilköy, Bakırköy, Istanbul. It operates scheduled services to 206 international and 40 domestic airports, serving a total of 246 airports, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas as of July 2013. 103 destination countries makes the carrier's destination network from one hub the world's largest. Other airline companies that are owened or co-owned by THY include