Turkish Cargo, already the world’s third‑largest air cargo carrier, is targeting industry leadership by 2033 through an aggressive network expansion and a fleet growth plan supported by the SMARTIST mega‑hub in Istanbul and new freighter orders.

Ali Türk, Turkish Airlines’ chief cargo officer, said the carrier achieved its goal of ranking among the world’s top three cargo carriers “four years ahead of schedule” and is now setting new targets.

He told Asia Cargo News that 2024 marked a “milestone year” for Turkish Cargo, with strong revenue and volume growth fueled by operational discipline and a clear focus on customer needs.

“Our global market position strengthened significantly, placing us among the top three air cargo carriers worldwide,” Türk said. “This performance has continued into 2025.”

“We are seeing stable demand across key corridors and solid contributions from our freighter and bellyhold operations.”

Türk noted that as trade flows shift, the carrier remains focused on the fundamentals: targeted investments, strong customer service and disciplined execution.

“These principles will continue to guide our decisions in the period ahead,” he said. 

Turkish Cargo met its earlier goal of ranking among the world’s top global cargo carriers, only behind FedEx Express and Emirates SkyCargo – a milestone that, Türk said, “reflects our unwavering focus on long‑term strategy, operational excellence, and future‑focused investment.”

“In 2024, Turkish Cargo became the world’s third-largest air cargo carrier, four years ahead of our original target,” he said, adding that the air cargo carrier’s transformation is driven by two primary pillars: investing in people and advancing technology.

“We continue to strengthen our workforce through training and performance-driven practices, while expanding the use of intelligent systems across operations. SMARTIST, our next-generation hub in Istanbul, reflects this focus and enables us to operate with greater efficiency and control,” he said.

“Looking ahead, we aim to grow our dedicated freighter fleet to 44 aircraft, serve 150 cargo destinations and increase SMARTIST’s annual capacity from 2.2 to 4.5 million tons. These milestones will position us to lead the global air cargo industry by 2033,” Türk added.

Turkish Cargo operates 26 freighters and has firm orders for four Boeing 777Fs and 10 Airbus A350Fs, chosen for their operational capability and long‑haul performance.

The freighter investment forms part of Turkish Airlines’ plan to grow its fleet to more than 800 aircraft by 2033, including cargo planes.

“This structure lets us combine dedicated freighters with one of the world’s most connected passenger networks, enabling quick, efficient responses to changing market needs,” Türk said.

Meanwhile, Türk described the Asia‑Pacif ic as one of the airline’s “most dynamic regions,” citing strong growth across key cargo corridors.

The carrier is expanding its network from 111 to 150 destinations – including key Asia corridors such as the Middle Corridor linking Europe and China.

“Today, Turkish Cargo ranks among the top 10 carriers for outbound APAC shipments and is one of the top three foreign airlines in the region. This strong presence reflects both our growing customer base and our ability to provide reliable, high-frequency service across key Asian gateways,” Türk said.

With trade lanes shifting, new regional frameworks emerging and cross‑border ecommerce continuing to grow, Turkish Cargo is expanding its network and capacity in the region to capture new opportunities.

“We’ve increased freighter frequencies to Hong Kong, Vietnam and China, and we’re actively evaluating additional destinations across Southeast and Northeast Asia,” Türk said.

“But the real story is not about size. It is about shaping an air cargo business that is responsive to complexity, capable of absorbing shocks and built to meet a new generation of supply chain demands.”

The strategy is under pinned by SMARTIST, the carrier’s high‑capacity cargo hub in Istanbul, and bolstered by expanding automation that improves turnaround speed and accuracy.

Beyond infrastructure, the growth plan is aligned with shifting global trade flows and geopolitical conditions.

Türk said SMARTIST has been pivotal in accelerating the carrier’s growth, pairing advanced automation with high operational capacity.

“With the next phase of development under SMARTIST 2.0, our annual capacity is set to double,” he said.

He added that the expansion mirrors the strategic evolution of Turkish Cargo’s freight portfolio, with pharmaceutical logistics emerging as a key focus amid rising demand for temperature‑controlled, compliant transport.

Türk noted that the TK Pharma product is backed by International Air Transport Association Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators Pharma and good distribution practice certifications, a dedicated temperature controlled centre at SMARTIST, and trained handling teams.

“As part of this effort, we are doubling our cold chain infrastructure and allocating significant capacity to special cargo segments – including pharma, perishables, live animals and other time- and temperature‑sensitive shipments,” Türk said.

Ecommerce is also surging, with cargo volumes rising nearly fivefold in the past three years.

In eight years, the carrier expects 55% of its revenue to come from special cargo and ecommerce.

“Ecommerce continues to gain momentum. By 2033, special cargo and ecommerce combined are expected to account for over half of Turkish Cargo’s total revenue,” he told Asia Cargo News.

Türk said digitalization underpins the carrier’s operations, from AI‑supported cargo tracking and automated acceptance systems to Internet of Things sensors that monitor temperature, humidity and location for sensitive shipments. On the ground, tools like CAPRON, ULD contour reporting and autonomous mobile robots are streamlining handling and improving efficiency, while TKGO, its in‑house booking platform, has rapidly gained traction, driving most Asia‑Pacific reservations.

“Digitalization is central to how we operate and innovate. We use real-time cargo tracking, automated acceptance systems and intelligent scanning tools supported by AI,” he added.

Turkish Cargo’s Robotic Process Automation (RPA) tools to streamline repetitive internal workflows, while itsAI‑powered virtual assistant, CARGY, delivers real‑time shipment information and support to customers.

Türk called Asia‑Pacific “one of the most digitally advanced regions” and said the carrier has responded with TKGO, which streamlines air cargo transactions end‑to‑end.

“Over 90% of our bookings in the region now come through this platform. That tells us we’re building the right tools for the market.”

With supply chains shifting and demand spreading across more regions, customer expectations for speed, reliability and flexibility are reshaping the way Turkish Cargo operates.

The carrier’s network already reaches more than 70% of global trade, and in 2024, 76% of its shipments moved through Istanbul as transit – a position it sees as a springboard for growth. “That tells us we’re in a strong position, but we’re not standing still.”

“We’re growing our capacity where we see steady, long-term demand, especially in special cargo and ecommerce. We’re also building intermodal connections in the places where it truly makes sense for our customers,” Türk told Asia Cargo News.

“For us, it’s not about chasing trends. It’s about staying ready, keeping our operations flexible, and making sure we can support our partners wherever the market goes.”

By Charlee C. Delavin

Asia Cargo News | Munich