Turkish Airlines (THY) has launched a comprehensive investment initiative at Istanbul Airport that will shape the future of the aviation ecosystem. THY Chairman of the Board Ahmet Bolat announced that the foundations of some of the 8 major investment projects—ranging from production and maintenance to training, technology and logistics—have been laid, while new phases of others have been officially launched.
Bolat emphasised that these investments are not merely about constructing new facilities; they also represent the implementation of a holistic infrastructure vision that will strengthen Türkiye’s position in global aviation.
500 aircraft in 20 years, now targeting the second 500
Bolat noted that over the past 20 years, Turkish Airlines has not only expanded its route network and fleet, but has also built a self-sufficient, sustainable and robust ecosystem across all areas of aviation.
Recalling that it took 70 years—from 1933 to 2003—for the fleet to reach 65 aircraft, Bolat stated that this number has risen to 500 over the past 23 years. He added that THY has now entered its second growth phase of 500 aircraft and is moving decisively towards its 2033 targets.
The world’s largest cargo terminal and Europe’s largest engine maintenance centre
Among the standout projects launched at Istanbul Airport are:
- SmartIST: The second phase of SmartIST, set to become the world’s largest air cargo terminal with a capacity of 4.5 million tonnes
- In-flight catering facility: Daily production capacity of 500,000 meals
- Aircraft engine maintenance centre: Europe’s largest wide-body aircraft engine maintenance facility
- Flight training complexes: Expanded training buildings
- Data centres
- Widect centre: The hub of the Widect brand, offering door-to-door cargo services
- Additional crew terminal building and support facilities
Investments exceeding TRY 100 billion, more than 26,000 new jobs
With the completion of these investments—whose total value exceeds 100 billion Turkish lira—it is planned to create more than 26,000 additional jobs. The projects are expected to strengthen the aviation ecosystem formed by THY together with its 21 subsidiary companies and to contribute to the vision of the Century of Türkiye.
“These investments look beyond our centenary”
Ahmet Bolat underlined that the investments are continuing in line with the vision of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to make Türkiye one of the global centres of aviation, stating that these projects serve not only today’s needs but also a long-term vision extending beyond THY’s centenary.
Bolat thanked Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, all stakeholders and employees who attended the ceremony, and expressed his hope that the investments would be beneficial for Turkish Airlines, Türkiye and global aviation.
