BTS has decided to carry out a one-day work stoppage action on 18 February 2026. The action is expected to affect Turkish airspace and flight operations.
The United Transport Workers’ Union (BTS) announced that it will carry out a one-day “exercise of the power arising from production” action on 18 February 2026 and called on all airlines operating flights to Türkiye or using Turkish airspace to review their planning.
Claim of “Unfairness” in Airspace Revenues
In the statement made by BTS, it was recalled that airlines pay fees for using countries’ airspace, and that these revenues are used by the relevant institutions both to improve air traffic services and to be shared with employees.
However, it was stated that in Türkiye the distribution of these revenues to employees disrupts internal institutional harmony and leads to significant income disparities among staff. The union argued that this situation has created a long-standing injustice.
No Outcome from Negotiations
BTS stated that they had established dialogue with the relevant institutional authorities and made various attempts to resolve the problems, but no concrete solution has been achieved so far.
Within this framework, the union announced that it had decided on a one-day work stoppage action on 18 February 2026 to draw attention to its members’ demands.
Warning to Airlines on Flight Planning
The union reported that serious disruptions may occur in air traffic services during the planned action on that date, which could negatively affect the use of Turkish airspace as well as landing and take-off operations at airports in Türkiye.
For this reason, all international airlines operating flights to Türkiye or using Turkish airspace were called upon to review their flight planning for 18 February 2026 and take the necessary precautions.
BTS shared its statement with the public, thanking international airlines in advance for their understanding.
In the statement issued:
BTS UNITED TRANSPORT WORKERS’ UNION
Subject: Information regarding our action to exercise the power arising from production / non-provision of service to be carried out on 18 February 2026
To All Airlines Operating Flights to Türkiye or Using Turkish Airspace
Our union, the United Transport Workers’ Union (BTS), operates in the transportation sector in Türkiye, and one of the fields in which it is organised is the aviation sector. A significant portion of our members work within the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMİ).
As you know, airlines pay fees in return for using countries’ airspace. Part of these fees is used by the relevant national institutions to improve air traffic services, while another part is distributed among the employees providing these services. Unfortunately, in our country, an injustice occurs in the distribution of these fees to employees, disrupting internal institutional harmony and creating deep income disparities among staff.
As BTS, despite maintaining communication with the relevant institutional authorities and making efforts to resolve our members’ problems through dialogue, no solution has been achieved to date despite our meetings and initiatives.
Therefore, our union has decided to carry out a one-day “exercise of the power arising from production” action on 18 February 2026 in order to voice our members’ legitimate demands and ensure that the necessary steps are taken by the relevant institutions to achieve a solution.
During the work stoppage action to be carried out on that date, serious disruptions in services may occur, which may negatively affect the use of Turkish airspace and landing-take-off operations at airports in Türkiye.
In this context, it is important that all international airlines take our decision for the “exercise of the power arising from production” action on 18 February 2026 into account, review their flight planning, and take the necessary precautions.
We thank you in advance for the understanding you will show on behalf of our union.
Respectfully,
https://www.airportgundem.com/btsten-havayollarina-ucus-planlamasi-uyarisi/
