Turkish Airlines has announced an investment programme worth more than TRY 100 billion, positioning the national flag carrier to raise its annual contribution to the Turkish economy to $144bn by 2033.
This was made known in a recent statement made available to The PUNCH. The initiative, unveiled under the airline’s 2033 vision, was launched with groundbreaking ceremonies for eight major facilities, most of them located at Istanbul Airport, Turkish Airlines’ main hub.
The projects are designed to significantly expand cargo capacity, technical maintenance, catering, training, and data infrastructure, reinforcing Türkiye’s ambition to become a global aviation hub.
According to the statement, the ceremony was attended by Türkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu; Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines, Prof Ahmet Bolat; senior airline executives; and key stakeholders from the aviation sector.
Describing the programme as transformative, Uraloğlu said the investments would elevate both Turkish Airlines and the national economy.
Uraloğlu said, “With these projects, we are making a determined and ambitious start to 2026. The foundations we are laying today are strong steps toward Turkish Airlines’ magnificent rise and its goal of becoming the world’s number one airline. These investments will strengthen not only the wings of our flag carrier but also those of Türkiye’s economy.”
He described the expansion of the SmartIST air cargo terminal as a strategic pillar of the plan, noting that its annual capacity will increase from 2.2 million tonnes to 4.5 million tonnes.
“This capacity increase will place Turkish Cargo among the global leaders in air freight,” Uraloğlu said. He added that the overall investment programme is expected to create 26,000 new jobs by 2026, further deepening the country’s aviation ecosystem.
Prof Bolat said the scale of the initiative reflects Turkish Airlines’ long-term strategy of coupling fleet growth with heavy investment in infrastructure and human capital.
He further said, “This investment initiative, exceeding TRY 100 billion, is a concrete demonstration of our vision to make Türkiye one of the world’s foremost aviation hubs. We are investing simultaneously in cargo, technical maintenance, catering, digital transformation, and people.”
Bolat underlined the projected economic impact, which anchors the airline’s long-term contribution to the country.
“When all phases are completed, employment will rise to 36,000, while our contribution to the national economy, currently at $65bn, is expected to reach $144bn annually by 2033,” he stated.
He stressed that key aspects of the projects include the second phase of the SmartIST cargo hub, set to become one of the world’s largest air cargo centres; a new main catering facility with the capacity to serve more than 500,000 passengers daily; and a state-of-the-art engine maintenance centre to be operated by Turkish Technic.
Additional investments cover new aircraft maintenance hangars, an e-commerce logistics complex, a high-security Istanbul Data Centre, an advanced flight training centre, and a new crew terminal building.
According to the airline, the projects form an integrated growth model aimed at expanding operational capacity, strengthening digital and technical capabilities, and supporting sustainable expansion.
He stressed, “These investments are the backbone of our long-term growth strategy. They will support our centennial goal of becoming one of the world’s five largest airlines by fleet size, while delivering a lasting and growing economic contribution to Türkiye.”
