This is an ideal question for a trivia quiz because we doubt many will get the right answer. The only problem is that we are a little dubious  because the claim depends on how you define Europe. Anyway, according to figures for last December, the largest “European” flag-carriers are Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, British Airways and – guess who – Turkish Airlines.

Whatever the niceties of the definition, there is no question that the airline has made astonishing progress in the last decade. It has doubled in size in just five years. They currently have 150 aircraft and plan to have 200 by 2014. They now have quite a decent reputation for cabin service on European flights and, as their intercontinental flights increase, they are working on bringing the standard there to “at least” the level of the existing major airlines. They have copied the plan of Emirates and much of their custom is from European passengers connecting in Istanbul. Their position between Western Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa gives them a huge geographical advantage. Politically, they can also claim to be “neutral” or “friendly” in certain countries where western airlines are looked on with some suspicion.

They have also shown considerable marketing skill. Sponsoring Manchester United and Barcelona does not come cheap but it you are going to get into sports sponsorship, you should aim for the best. They have also some shrewd sponsorship deals in tennis and basketball. Their advertising has developed a reputation for being quirky and amusing – the Kevin Costner “celebrity” ad became a YouTube hit (and was even featured on this blog!).

So, everything is going swimmingly for Turkish Airlines but just one thing holds them back…

They used to have a shocking safety record. This has greatly improved but there are still far too many blips (not all of which get any form of press coverage). Cabin crew have been trained to smile, airport staff persuaded to be a little less grumpy and aircraft interiors refreshed but it seems that the airline’s management has yet to persuade all their pilots to fly by the book. Without stricter controls on the pilots and an unforgiving attitude to errors, Turkish Airlines can grow as big as it wants but is not likely to enjoy the status it thinks it merits.

A Turkish Airlines Captain has resigned following a botched landing at Brussels a few days ago when he scraped both engines on the runway. No one was hurt.

It is unfortunate that the pilot decided to resign immediately. Even pretty obvious examples of pilot error are rarely as simple as they might appear. To put it bluntly, well-run airlines have far fewer examples of pilot error than badly-run airlines.

Turkish Airlines appears to have had a string of relatively minor incidents (“minor” in that there were no injuries) which suggest that the airline’s accident-prone past is not yet buried.

The airline has revamped its logo, cabin standards and general passenger service – maybe now is a good time to have a thorough overhaul of pilot training and supervision.

The report published last week on a near-miss over London in 2009 has caused some concern amongst the pilot community. A misunderstanding between a business jet and a controller at London City Airport led to the small jet being set on a collision course with a passenger jet. BALPA has pointed out that the business jet was not fitted with the latest type of collision avoidance systems which are mandatory on passenger jets. The union is – quite sensibly – calling for business jets to have the same systems as passenger aircraft since they fly in the same air space.

All very wise – but the most sophisticated type of system is of no use if pilots ignore it. In this instance, the pilots of the passenger jet ignored three separate warnings and it was a pilot in the jump-seat (behind the operating pilots) who spotted the business jet and made sure his colleagues took the necessary action.

Somehow, it is not a surprise that this was a Turkish Airlines aircraft.

The airline has made huge efforts to improve its dreadful safety record and is trying hard to establish itself as one of the world’s leading and most progressive carriers. Yet, as this incident shows, they still have serious problems with some of their flight crew. Safe flying is all about following the routine and being disciplined. At least some of Turkish Airlines’ pilots appear to have some difficulty with this concept.

If Turkish Airlines want to be taken seriously as a major airline, they not only have to improve pilot training and monitoring, but show the world they have done so.