Turkey's "rising star", Turkish Airlines started its journey in 1933 with just five aircraft. Today it serves with a passenger and cargo fleet of 326 aircraft and with the same excitement and enthusiasm just like the first day after all those years. The substantial growth it has achieved has put Turkish Airlines among the top airlines of the world. Reinforcing this prominent position and energy with its significant growth figures and innovative approach, Turkish Airlines has always put its signature under important successes in the sector. One of them is undoubtedly the largest aircraft order in Turkish Civil Aviation history, with a significant decision that the airline took in 2013. With this decision, the national carrier aimed to both maintain the fleet average age over the coming years, and push its quality of service even further higher. Counting the 170 aircraft on order, and the aircraft whose rental period is due to come to end by the end of 2023, the fleet of the carrier including cargo aircrafts expected to reach 500 aircraft.
Turkish Airlines permanently continues to undertake countless initiatives in global civil aviation. For instance, the global carrier opened another chapter in Turkish Civil Aviation by launching its new maintenance and repair center in June 2014. The new maintenance and repair facility, constructed at Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, has been regarded as a huge step forward for Turkish Civil Aviation, and widely noted in global aviation. The center added additional momentum to the region’s sector growth as well. The aim of the project, beyond setting up a campus that provides maintenance repair and overhaul services, was the creation of an adequate aviation complex that attracts and provides space for firms operating in other areas of aviation, and particular companies manufacturing products for the industry. The project was brought to life with an investment of roughly 550 million USD. This maintenance and repair center already has a workforce of nearly 7,000 in place, and along with its subsidiaries (TEC, Goodrich Turkish Technic Service Center, TCI Turkish Cabin Interior, TSI Turkish Seat Industries) it has an expected annual turnover of 1.5 billion USD. Bringing this aviation complex on line raises the bar in the field of aviation maintenance and is an important milestone as well on the road to the production of a national civil passenger aircraft, which is an important objective of Turkish Republic’s 2023 Vision that laid down to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic.
Another significant initiative of Turkish Airlines that successfully carried out in recent years is the creation of Turkish Seats Industries – TSI. This venture, a partnership of Turkish Airlines, Turkish Technic Inc., and Assan Hanil, is the first local aircraft seat producer exclusively designed by Turkish engineers. In 2014, this project played a significant role in regional aviation agenda, with an investment of 5 million USD. After Turkish Seats Industries had successfully introduced the first locally designed seat to the assembly of Boeing 737-800 aircraft, it then designed seats which would last the ergonomic life of Airbus A319-320 and 321 aircraft, and it continues to drive innovation in seat design. The company, which has initially started to renovate just existing aircrafts of the fleet, now fits these locally manufactured seats to some new aircrafts that joining to the fleet. This project of which main aim is to provide ergonomic seats that increase the passenger comfort and satisfaction to the highest level, is also a sign of a pride for the flag carrier as being exported to the world's largest aircraft manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus, on the other hand. As TSI fitted the locally designed seats in 5 A330-300 aircrafts at the Airbus production facilities in 2016, Turkish Airlines took the delivery of the first aircraft to leave the factory with those seats, and those are now a part of the existing fleet. In addition to them, last May, the national carrier has also delivered 1 Boeing B777-300ER that fitted with these local seats at Boeing’ Seattle facilities.
Another key initiative TCI (Turkish Cabin Interiors) is a partnership between Turkish Airlines, Turkish Technic Inc., and TAI, which produced the first aircraft galley to be entirely designed by Turkish engineers. After taking delivery of the first commercial aircraft fitted with TCI galley equipment in 2014, Turkish Airlines is still continuing to add aircrafts fitted with this galley equipment to its expanding fleet.
SKYTRAX AWARDS
As a member of Star Alliance (the world's largest airline partnership) since April 1st 2008, Turkish Airlines has not only focused on growth and profitability, but has committed to further increase its service quality. With its successful performance that displayed in this regard over recent years, the national flag carrier has received numerous awards from various leading organizations of the world, just as Skytrax.
Skytrax carries out researches into the global aviation, by acting independently from any commercial concern, and basing its evaluations on performance and passenger votes. With results of these researches, Skytrax holds annual awards in several categories such as airlines, airports, cabin crew, in-flight entertainment and catering services. Over recent years, Turkish Airlines has received many Skytrax awards. In 2009 and 2010, it was selected as the "Southern Europe's Best Airline", and was also declared as the "Europe's 3rd Best Airline" in 2010. In the same year, its economy class catering served by TURKISH DO&CO (a world-renowned partnership between Turkish Airlines and DO&CO) was selected as the “Best Economy Class Service” in the world.
At 2011 awards, Turkish Airlines was selected as the "Europe's Best Airline" and again as the "Southern Europe's Best Airline"; while its Comfort Class seat was awarded as the "Best Premium Economy Seat". The catering served in economy class also maintained its leading position.
While continuing to be the only airline in Europe to have "4 star" rating in all Skytrax evaluation categories, Turkish Airlines won the "Europe's Best Airline" title for the second time in 2012.
Turkish Airlines was declared as the "Europe's Best Airline" by Skytrax for a third time in 2013. Chosen as the "Southern Europe's Best Airline" five years in a row, Turkish Airlines was also awarded with the "Best Business Class Food Service" for its 'Flying Chef' service provided to its Business Class passengers on long-haul flights.
In 2014, Skytrax awarded Turkish Airlines with the "Europe's Best Airline" award for the fourth consecutive years, and the "Southern Europe's Best Airline" for the sixth consecutive years. It also received the world's "Best Business Class Food Service" and "Best Business Class Passenger Lounge Dining Service" awards according to this year’ survey.
2015 Skytrax passenger survey again chose Turkish Airlines as the "Europe's Best Airline" for the fifth year in a row, and as the "Southern Europe's Best Airline" for an incredible seventh year running. In the same year the global carrier also received the world's "Best Business Class Passenger Lounge" and "Best Business Class Passenger Lounge Dining Service" awards.
2016 saw Turkish Airlines receive the "Europe's Best Airline" award for the sixth consecutive years, and the "Southern Europe's Best Airline" award for the eighth time in as many years. 2016 also saw the national flag carrier receive the world's "Best Business Class Passenger Lounge" and "Best Business Class Passenger Lounge Dining Service" awards.
And according to the results of 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards that announced in last June, Turkish Airlines picked up four awards; “Best Airline in Southern Europe”, “Best Business Class Onboard Catering”, “World’s Best Business Class Lounge”, and “Best Business Class Dining Lounge”.
| Turkish Airlines group companies | Founding date | Headquarters | Shareholding structure | Area of Operation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger and cargo transport | |||||
 | Güneş Ekspres Havacılık A.Ş. | October 1989 | Antalya | 50% Turkish Airlines - 50% Lufthansa | Passenger and cargo transport |
| Sun Express Deutschland GMBH | April 2011 | Germany | %50 Güneş Ekspres - %50 DLP Stiftung | Passenger and cargo transport |
| Maintenance and repair (MRO) | |||||
 | Turkish Technic Inc. | May 2006 | SG Airport, HABOM Facilities, Istanbul | 100% Turkish Airlines | Aircraft maintenance (MRO) |
 | TEC Turkish Engine Center | October 2008 | SG Airport, HABOM Facilities, Istanbul | 51% PW - 49% Turkish Airlines | Engine maintenance (MRO) |
 | Goodrich Turkish Technic Service Center | October 2010 | Gebze | 60% Goodrich - 40% Turkish Technic Inc. | Engine maintenance (MRO) |
| Inflight productions | |||||
 | TCI Turkish Cabin Interior Inc. | May 2011 | SG Airport, HABOM Facilities, Istanbul | 50% Turkish Airlines - 50% TAI | Inflight productions and trade |
 | TSI Aviation Seats | September 2011 | SG Airport, HABOM Facilities, Istanbul | 50% Turkish Airlines - 50% Opet | Inflight productions and trade |
| TSI Aviation Seats | June 2014 | Utah, USA | 100% Aircraft Seat | Inflight productions and trade |
| Support services | |||||
 | Turkish Opet Aviation Fuels | September 2009 | World Trade Center, Istanbul | 50% Turkish Airlines - 50% Opet | Aviation fuel trade |
 | Kuzey Tankercilik A.Ş. | November 2012 | World Trade Center, Istanbul | % 100 THY Opet | Marine transportation |
 | Güney Tankercilik A.Ş. | November 2012 | World Trade Center, Istanbul | % 100 THY Opet | Marine transportation |
 | Turkish Do&Co | January 2007 | Ataturk Airport, Istanbul | 50% Turkish Airlines - 50% Do&Co | Catering |
 | TGS Turkish Ground Services | August 2008 | World Trade Center, Istanbul | 50% Turkish Airlines - 50% Havaş | Airport ground services |
 | THY Aydın Çıldır Havalimanı İşletme A.Ş. | June 2012 | Cildir Airport, Aydin | 100% Turkish Airlines | Airport management and aviation education |
| Others | |||||
 | Vergi İade Aracılık A.Ş. | September 2014 | Besiktas, Istanbul | 30% Turkish Airlines - 45% Maslak Oto - 25% VK Holding | Tax return brokerage services |
| THY Havaalanı Gayrimenkul Yatırım ve İşletme A.Ş. | November 2017 | Ataturk Airport, Istanbul | 100% Turkish Airlines | Airport Investments and Management | |
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 of the carrier’ going from strength to strength.
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 INC | GROUP-STAFF | TOTAL |
| MANAGERS | 578 | |
| PILOTS | 4.509 | |
| CABIN CREW | 9.798 | |
| TECHNICIAN | 186 | |
| OTHER | 9.004 | |
| SUB TOTAL | 24.075 | |
| SUBSIDIARIES | PASSENGER AND CARGO TRANSPORT | 3.963 |
| MAINTENANCE REPAIR (MRO) | 7.809 | |
| INFLIGHT PRODUCTIONS | 244 | |
| SUPPORT SERVICES | 15.074 | |
| OTHER | 19 | |
| SUB TOTAL | 27.109 | |
| GRAND TOTAL | 51.184 |
Turkish Airlines, opening more doors across the world for its passengers, now offers a wide range of flights to 300 destinations. The national carrier operates in 120 countries, more than any other airline in the world.
For over ten years, Turkish Airlines has increased its service quality as its number of passengers that carried. 10.4 million passenger were carried in 2003, and 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.
| YEAR | NUMBER of PASSENGERS |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 11.994.498 |
| 2005 | 14,134,000 |
| 2006 | 16,947,000 |
| 2007 | 19,636,000 |
| 2008 | 22,597,000 |
| 2009 | 25,102,000 |
| 2010 | 29,119,000 |
| 2011 | 32,648,000 |
| 2012 | 39,040,409 |
| 2013 | 48,267,142 |
| 2014 | 54,674,967 |
| 2015 | 61,248,192 |
| 2016 | 62,758,615 |
| 2017 | 68,616,740 |
