ACERCA DE TURKISH AIRLINES

Turkey's "rising star", Turkish Airlines, began its’ journey back in 1933 with 5 planes. Today, Turkish Airlines boasts a fleet of 337 aircrafts (passenger and cargo) and continues that journey with the same excitement. With its growth figures placing the company among the leading airlines in the world, Turkish Airlines, with a momentous decision in 2013, made the biggest airplane purchase in the history of Turkish Civil Aviation. 

In coming years, the standard-bearer Turkish Airlines aims to continue its surge to the top of the chart in service quality by maintaining the fleet age average. Given the large-scale aircraft orders and aircrafts that are to be leased and the leases to be expired, the total number of aircrafts is expected to be around 500 at the end of 2023, including cargo aircrafts in the Turkish Airlines fleet. 

The national airline, which has so far made countless significant ventures in the history of Turkish Civil Aviation, successfully continues to fulfill its mission. The opening of the maintenance and repair facilities at Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in 2014 facilitated by the Turkish Airlines Technic Inc., a successful subsidiary in the field of aircraft maintenance, repair, support and engineering services with the objective of increasing the technical maintenance and repair capacity and creating a comprehensive ecosystem is regarded to be a major step in Turkish Civil Aviation and the project has caused ripples in the aviation sector in general. The project, which was put into operation with an investment of $550 million, is expected to have a significant impact on the development of regional aviation and to be in the top five ranking of the world's largest aircraft maintenance and repair companies. The annual turnover of the maintenance and repair center, which currently employs approximately 9,000 people, is expected to reach $2 billion with its affiliates (TEC, Goodrich Turkish Technic Service Center, TCI Turkish Cabin Interior, Turkish Seat Industries TSI and Cornea Aerospace). 

Another important achievement of Turkish Airlines in recent years is the Aircraft Seat Manufacturing Industry and Trade Inc. (TurkishSeats Industries – TSI), founded with the partnership of Turkish Airlines A.O., Turkish Airlines Technic Inc. and Assan Hanil, the first national airplane seat manufacture, designed solely by Turkish engineers. The project which has made a significant impact on the aviation sector in 2014 was founded with an investment of 5 million US dollars in line with the proclaimed “vision of 2023; the 100th year anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey” which aims to manufacture a hundred percent Turkish made aircraft. After completing the installment of the first ever domestically designed aircraft seats on the Boeing 737-800, Turkish Seats Industries continues to refit the Airbus A319-320 and 321 aircrafts, replacing the seats that have completed their useful-life with brand seats designed in Turkey. 

Initially just refitting the existing fleet aircraft, the company carried on to export domestically designed seats to the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers Boeing and Airbus, with the aim of raising passenger satisfaction by offering ergonomics and a comfortable travel space for passengers, the TSI brand has also been successfully registered in the US. Having increased its yearly revenue by 22% in 2018, TSI aims to further increase its market share with the manufacturing of business and premium economy class seats. 

The first ever in-house kitchen (galley); TCI (Turkish Cabin Interiors) designed solely by Turkish engineers is another significant advancement in Turkish Civil Aviation achieved through the partnership of Turkish Airlines A.O., Turkish Airlines Technic Inc. and TAI. Having received the first aircraft fitted with TCI kitchen equipment, Turkish Airlines continues to add to its fleet additional aircraft fitted with the same upgrades. 

Increasing its worldwide renown throughout 2017 and 2018, TCI continues to be awarded international contracts and was successful in being named “Global Offerable” and was included in the catalog as one of the four manufacturers for the new generation Boeing 737, one of the two most used aircrafts in the world. 

TCI, which boasts a 25% market share worldwide in business class seats, has undertaken a global cooperation with a 100% Airbus subsidiary, STELIA in manufacturing Business Class cabinets for Turkish Airlines' B787 and A350 aircraft orders. TCI has also agreed to be a supplier for STELIA and other international projects. In addition, the company has agreed with Airbus to become a catalog supplier to design and manufacture A350 airplane bar units for all international customers. 

Having increased its expertise and experience in cabin interior entertainment systems (IFE), Turkish Airlines Technic Inc., furthered its ongoing co-operation with Havelsan Inc. in the field and founded the Cornea Aerospace in October of 2018. The company, the goal of which is to acquire a global market share in the in-flight entertainment systems and be one of the world's leading IFE suppliers aims to become a supplier approved by Airbus and Boeing in the short-run.

Staff Number

To ensure the highest levels of passenger satisfaction, Turkish Airlines separates itself from its competitors by continuously developing its innovative approach in this regard, and permanently investing in its workforce which regarded as the most important factor in going from strength to strength by the carrier.

All the members of huge Turkish Airlines family, who adopt making passengers feel special and valued throughout their travel by developing new innovations at each stage of travel, offering them pleasant surprises and bringing them a diverse and memorable travel experience as a principle, play a crucial role in making the brand globally recognized along with its approx. thirty different operational areas.

Turkish Airlines, opening more international gateways across the world for its passengers than any other airline, currently offers a wide range of flights to 311 destinations in 124 countries.

Turkish Airlines, who has been performing a rising performance in its passenger potential for more than ten years, carried 10.4 million passengers in 2003. This figure rose to 29.1 million, 32.6 million, 39 million and 48.3 million passengers in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. In 2014, an impressive period of growth saw this number rise to around 55 million. The number of passengers carried in 2015 was 61.2 million, and this increased to 62.8 million by the end of 2016. While the number of passengers carried by the flag carrier reached to 68.6 million in 2017, Turkish Airlines’ total Load Factor improved by 4.7 points up to 79.1%, while international Load Factor increased by 5 points, up to 78.4%, during January-December 2017 period. During January-April 2018, increase in demand and total number of passengers was 21% and 24%, respectively, over the same period of last year, and the total number of passengers increased 9.5% and reached 75.2 million.