Turkish Airlines has launched a TRY 100 billion (approximately US$2.32 billion) investment initiative, breaking ground on eight new facilities that will expand Türkiye's aviation infrastructure and support the carrier's long‑term 2033 vision.
Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat said the carrier is expanding both its fleet and its infrastructure to fully support its 2033 targets.
"We are developing not only our fleet but also the robust infrastructure that will allow us to fully utilize this fleet. This investment initiative, exceeding TRY 100 billion and spanning from our cargo operations to our technical maintenance capacity, from our catering centers to integrated operational solutions, strengthens our global competitiveness and is a concrete evidence of our vision to make Türkiye one of the world's foremost aviation hubs," he said.
"With these steps, we are building not only facilities but also an ecosystem for the future of our country's economy and aviation sector. Today, our company's contribution to our country's economy is US$65 billion, and when we reach our 2033 goals, this figure will reach US$144 billion," Bolat added, noting that the investments will provide 26,000 new jobs in 2026, and will increase to 36,000 when all phases are completed.
[Source: Turkish Airlines]
The new multi‑million‑lira investment package includes Phase 2 of the Turkish Cargo SmartIST project, planned for gradual completion in 2027–2028 and described as one of the world’s largest air cargo centers with an annual capacity of 4.5 million tons.
The plan also covers a Turkish Technic Engine Maintenance Center, scheduled for completion in 2027 and described as one of Europe's largest new‑generation engine maintenance facilities, with capability to service Trent XWB‑84, Trent XWB‑97 and Trent 7000 Rolls‑Royce engines. Additional aircraft maintenance hangars, due in 2026, will provide simultaneous capacity for 12 aircraft and raise the company's maintenance capability by about 20%.
The investment further includes an e‑commerce complex expected to enter service in 2026. The facility is presented as a key part of the airline’s logistics and digital transformation efforts and will be integrated with Widect, its operational model offering "door‑to‑door integrated cargo solutions."
The Istanbul Data Center, planned to enter service in 2027–2028, will form the digital backbone of Turkish Airlines' operations with high‑security infrastructure and advanced data management capabilities.
Other key investments include the Turkish Airlines Main Catering Facility—set to become one of the world's largest inflight catering centers with capacity for more than 500,000 passengers per day—and the Flight Training Center (Phase 1), scheduled for 2026–2027 to support the carrier's long‑term workforce strategy. The Additional Crew Terminal Building, due for completion in 2026, will further streamline logistics between ground services, maintenance, and flight operations.
Turkish Airlines the investment serves as the "backbone of a strategic aviation ecosystem supporting global operations."
"These investments form the foundation of an integrated growth model that advances operational capacity, technical infrastructure, and digital capabilities in line with Turkish Airlines' 2033 objectives to become one of the world's five largest fleets as the carrier celebrates its centennial," the carrier said in a statement.
The ceremony marking the new investment was held at Istanbul Airport with Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat, and senior executives from the airline and its subsidiaries in attendance.
Uraloğlu said Türkiye would "surpass a new threshold in aviation" with the investments, adding: "With a breakthrough that will leave its mark on the skies, opening a new page at the pinnacle of aviation, and further strengthening the wings of our national flag carrier, we will make a determined and ambitious start to 2026. These eight projects' foundations we are laying today are strong steps taken towards Turkish Airlines' magnificent rise and its goal of becoming the world's number one airline."
"With the second phase of the air cargo terminal SmartIST underway, the facility's usage area will increase. The cargo handling capacity, currently at 2.2 million tons, will rise to 4.5 million tons, propelling Turkish Cargo to global leadership," he added.
