Turkish Airlines anchors multibillion-lira expansion drive

Turkish Airlines has broken ground on a broad package of infrastructure projects valued at more than 100 billion lira, signalling a long-term commitment to expand capacity, resilience and training as global aviation demand continues to normalise. The carrier said the programme, equivalent to about $2.3 billion at prevailing exchange rates, spans eight new facilities across several locations in Türkiye and is designed to underpin fleet growth, operational reliability and workforce development.

The projects include new aircraft maintenance hangars, advanced flight training and simulation centres, cargo and logistics enhancements, and support facilities intended to reduce turnaround times and improve on-time performance. Executives described the investments as foundational, aimed at bringing critical capabilities in-house and lowering unit costs over time while preparing the airline for a larger, more diversified fleet.

At the centre of the plan is an expansion of maintenance, repair and overhaul capacity. Turkish Airlines has built a reputation for keeping a high share of heavy maintenance internal, a strategy that has helped manage costs and scheduling during periods of supply-chain stress. Additional widebody and narrowbody hangars are expected to increase annual check capacity and shorten aircraft downtime, a key consideration as delivery slots for new jets remain tight across the industry.

Training infrastructure forms another pillar. The airline is adding simulators and classrooms to scale pilot and cabin-crew pipelines, responding to a global shortage of qualified personnel that has constrained growth at several carriers. By investing in training assets, management aims to secure staffing for planned fleet expansion while maintaining safety and service standards across a growing route network.

Cargo facilities are also part of the build-out. Turkish Airlines Cargo has become a strategic growth engine, benefiting from Istanbul’s geographic position linking Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. New logistics and handling capacity is expected to support higher volumes, specialised freight and faster transfers, reinforcing the airline’s role as a regional hub operator.

The timing of the investments reflects confidence in medium-term demand. International traffic has stabilised after years of volatility, and carriers with diversified networks have been better positioned to capture flows. Turkish Airlines operates one of the world’s largest route maps by country count, a breadth that has cushioned it from regional shocks and supported load factors across seasons.

Financing for the programme will be phased, with a mix of internal cash generation and long-term funding. The airline has emphasised balance-sheet discipline in recent years, trimming leverage and extending maturities. Executives said the construction schedule is aligned with fleet plans to avoid capacity mismatches and to deliver returns as assets come online.

The projects are also framed as a response to operational lessons learned during supply-chain disruptions that affected engines, spare parts and maintenance slots industry-wide. By adding domestic capacity and specialised tooling, the airline expects to mitigate exposure to bottlenecks and improve schedule integrity, particularly on long-haul services.

Beyond operations, the build-out carries broader economic implications. Construction and commissioning are expected to create skilled jobs, while expanded training facilities could position Türkiye as a regional centre for aviation education. The airline has previously partnered with universities and vocational institutes to develop curricula aligned with industry needs, and the new assets are intended to deepen that ecosystem.

Environmental considerations feature in the design. New buildings are planned with energy-efficiency standards, and maintenance upgrades are expected to support newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft entering the fleet. While the aviation sector faces pressure to curb emissions, carriers argue that modern fleets and operational efficiencies are the most immediate levers available at scale.

Competition remains intense. European network carriers and Gulf rivals continue to add capacity and premium offerings, while low-cost operators push into short-haul markets. Turkish Airlines’ strategy leans on network breadth, frequency and connectivity, with infrastructure investment seen as a prerequisite to sustaining those advantages as volumes rise.