In 1933, the incredible journey of Turkish Airlines started with just five planes and less than 30 employees. Fast forward to 2024, with more destinations than any other airline worldwide, it is a major force in international aviation.
By the end of 2023, the Turkish Airlines fleet of 400 aircraft had an average age of 9.3 years, making it one of the youngest in the business. Turkish Airlines continues to reach new heights in the aviation business because of its adaptable organisational structure, committed staff, Istanbul hub, state-of-the-art fleet, and wide-ranging network.
In 2024, Turkish Airlines celebrated its 91st anniversary. The airline has continued to grow quickly as the national flag carrier, which is a result of effective sustainability management. To guarantee that sustainability management procedures are handled with a shared corporate understanding. Turkish Airlines is dedicated to its sustainability efforts, highlighted by the motto “Tomorrow On-Board,” which was introduced along with its “Sustainability Vision” in 2009. This motto reflects the journey taken, the achievements reached, and the sustainable practices that lie ahead in alignment with its Sustainability Vision.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as the foundation for Turkish Airlines’ sustainability initiatives, which prioritise social responsibility, environmental stewardship, and economic resilience. The sustainability strategy and targets are continuously assessed and developed to stay ahead of the curve because of its agility and sensitivity in a constantly changing environment that is affected by regulatory changes as well as new global and sectoral trends.
Sustainability is a path of constant progress, teamwork, and collective influence for Turkish Airlines rather than a one-time objective. The business has reassessed its plans in light of Turkey’s acceptance of the Paris Agreement and its pledge to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2053, in accordance with international standards and stakeholder expectations.
Turkish Airlines is committed to a more sustainable aviation future and has set a goal to become a Carbon Neutral Airline by 2050 as a way to show its support for the global fight against climate change. With a multifaceted approach that includes fleet modernisation, the continued use of sustainable aviation fuel, expanding partnerships on this issue, sourcing energy from renewable sources, and reducing and offsetting emissions, this long-term emission reduction target has emerged as the cornerstone of Turkish Airlines’ growth strategy.
To minimise its effects on the environment and cut down on carbon emissions, Turkish Airlines has implemented a thorough sustainability strategy. The foundation of this approach is fuel efficiency research that aims to lower emissions. By making investments in fuel-efficient aircraft, upgrading its engines, and utilising the newest technologies, the airline wants to enhance its fleet. In order to lessen the carbon footprint, over 100 operational optimisation and aircraft configuration projects have been successfully carried out since 2008. These initiatives prevented the release of 236,751 tons of carbon emissions into the environment and saved 75,148 tons of fuel in 2023 alone. Since 2008, 748,496 tons of gasoline have been saved, and 2,357,764 tons of carbon emissions have been avoided.
Turkish Airlines has also included sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into its operations and conducted its first flight using aviation fuel sourced sustainably in February 2022, acknowledging the critical role SAF plays in lowering emissions. The use of SAF has since been extended to new frequencies and itineraries.
Turkish Airlines is actively seeking partnerships to expand the production and use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), as it is currently produced in limited quantities worldwide. The airline has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting climate change by signing the Global SAF Declaration, which showcases a unified pledge from stakeholders in the aviation, space, and fuel sectors to decarbonise the aviation industry. In 2023, Turkish Airlines became a founding member of this initiative and established Turkey’s first sustainable aviation platform in collaboration with Boeing and Istanbul Technical University.
Additionally, through its CO2mission Programme, Turkish Airlines gives travellers the chance to take part in the battle against climate change. Through this initiative, travellers can quickly and easily offset the emissions associated with their flights. The projects are presented in three distinct portfolios based on passenger preferences. They include social development initiatives that support nine different Sustainable Development Goals, are globally accredited, and generate carbon credits to combat climate change. In keeping with the CO2 commitment, the Turkey-based carrier also balances the emissions from all employee duty flights.
To reduce paper use, Turkish Airlines has implemented sustainable practices in passenger services beyond aircraft operations, such as using digital boarding cards and offering digital reading materials. These programmes highlight its dedication to sustainability, as does the usage of biodegradable packaging and environmentally friendly amenities on board. Furthermore, the airline’s comprehensive approach to sustainability is demonstrated by its partnerships with stakeholders and investments in renewable energy sources. We hope to significantly lessen its carbon impact and advance sustainable energy practices using solar power.
In 2023, Turkish Airlines took part in the most reputable reporting platform for climate change and environmental degradation in the world, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Climate Change Programme. In CDP reviews, it received an “A-” score, which is in the leadership band and higher than the industry average for air travel. Since enrolling in the CDP, the carrier has been steadily raising its score. We reaffirmed its support for the Sustainable Development Goals at the start of 2023 when we joined the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) as a supportive member.
Meeting stakeholder expectations by offering a transparent communication network with pertinent parties, Turkish Airlines once again took part in the performance evaluations of national and international indices and sustainability rating organisations to analyse the present state of the sector. By guaranteeing ongoing involvement with these indices and rating agencies—which include the DJSI, FTSE4Good, MSCI, EcoVadis, Sustainalytics, TPI, and Borsa Istanbul Sustainability Index—it hopes to improve performance. The scores from the 2023 ESG performance evaluations, both on a company-by-company and industry-average basis, improved over the 2022 results, as did the assessments conducted by the top rating agencies in the globe. Turkish Airlines received a 2023 award in the “Silver” category as a consequence of Ecovadis’ assessments.
Turkish Airlines is committed to sustainable growth, innovation, and generating value for shareholders while navigating the complex dynamics of the market, technological advancements, and regulatory environments. The airline believes that its actions today will shape the future of the aviation industry. With this in mind, we are dedicated to pursuing a more sustainable future, ensuring that Turkish Airlines remains a shining example of excellence, resilience, and vision for years to come.
In an effort to strengthen its position as a top international airline, Turkish Airlines has skillfully adapted to recent changes in the market. The carrier remained committed to core principles despite obstacles like rising gasoline prices and geopolitical unrest. Through efficient financial management, the airline was able to weather difficult times and come out on top of its competitors in the European network carrier market.
Turkish Airlines stands out from its competition primarily due to its extensive network of destinations and operational flexibility. Significant investments and expansions have led its air cargo division, Turkish Cargo, to become one of the leading international air cargo carriers. The ability to swiftly adapt to changing situations has enabled the airline to maintain its leadership in daily flight operations. To keep its competitive edge, it continually invests in fuel-efficient aircraft and auxiliary businesses.
Despite pandemic-related difficulties, Turkish Airlines wants to strengthen its position in the coming years by achieving operational and financial success, setting the stage for future expansion. With well-defined goals for passenger income, fleet growth, and global market penetration, the airline is well-positioned for rapid expansion, bolstered by strategic investments in fuel-efficient aircraft and affiliated businesses.
Turkish Airlines places a high priority on comprehending client needs, controlling costs, and quickly responding to market developments in an increasingly competitive environment. The carrier established strategic goals centred on passenger experience, digitalisation, and sustainability after outlining a clear vision for the ensuing ten years. Beyond 2033, the airline wants to triple the number of planes and passengers, reach a revenue target of over $50 billion, and show its dedication to social responsibility through several initiatives.
The goal of Turkish Airlines is to become a global airline group that delivers value to its stakeholders while promoting sustainable development goals. The airline aims to achieve this by leveraging its modern fleet and extensive flight network.
Turkish Airlines’ commitment to sustainable excellence reflects its dedication to innovation, environmental stewardship, and leadership in the aviation industry. To create a sustainable future for air travel, the airline is setting new standards for ecologically responsible aviation operations through strategic initiatives and partnerships.
In the last two years, Turkish Airlines has also made significant strides in the US, more than doubling its pre-pandemic capacity this summer.
Turkish Airlines had over 75 weekly flights to nine US locations before the pandemic, with the most frequent being a triple-daily to New York-JFK. After five years, the airline has increased its weekly flight schedule to more than 150 and expanded its network to include five more US destinations.
The carrier has already increased its weekly frequencies to Denver from three to four flights since launching its new service to Denver (DEN) last month, and it plans to make this a daily route. Turkish Airlines Chairman, Professor Ahmet Bolat claims that “the numbers are excellent” on this route and that once it has the appropriate aircraft, Denver will be given priority for additional frequencies.
Following this, the airline will consider other lucrative routes, such as Detroit (DTW), which was added to its US network in November 2023 and is its second-most recent addition.
The airline reportedly plans to fly to up to 20 US locations, with Charlotte, Minneapolis, Orlando, and Philadelphia among the upcoming additions. Given the significance of the market, Professor Ahmet Bolat implied that the airline will strive for “at least daily” flights across its whole US network.
The Turkish Minister of Tourism’s plan to bring up to five million tourists to Turkey each year is one of the main reasons for its explosive growth in the US. The airline will eventually need to triple its capacity and then some to reach this goal, which it currently brings in about 1.5 million tourists annually.