Turkish Airlines lay foundations for major investment

Turkish Airlines – which operates daily flights from Birmingham Airport - has announced a major investment to strengthen its position as a major airline.

In line with its 2033 vision, ceremonies were held for eight new facilities with a total investment value exceeding TRY 100 billion (c.£1.72bn) at several locations, primarily Istanbul Airport.

The ceremony held at Istanbul Airport was attended by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Turkish Airlines chairman of the Board and the executive committee Prof. Ahmet Bolat, senior executives of Turkish Airlines and its subsidiaries, and leading figures in Turkish aviation.

Turkish Airlines is also undertaking a series of major infrastructure projects to strengthen its global operations and future growth.

These include the SmartIST Phase 2 cargo centre, set to become one of the world’s largest with a 4.5 million-ton annual capacity by 2027–2028, and a Main Catering Facility capable of serving over 500,000 passengers daily during the same period.

The airline is also building a new-generation Engine Maintenance Center, among Europe’s largest, scheduled for completion in 2027, alongside additional aircraft maintenance hangars by 2026 to boost capacity by 20 per cent.

Further investments include an E-Commerce Complex launching in 2026 to enhance digital logistics, an Istanbul Data Centre for advanced technology infrastructure by 2027–2028, and a Flight Training Centre between 2026–2027 to support workforce development.

Additionally, a new Crew Terminal Building will be completed in 2026 to streamline operational logistics.

Saying Türkiye will surpass a new threshold in aviation with these investments, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Türkiye Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, said: “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.

“These projects will further strengthen not only Turkish Airlines' wings but also those of Türkiye's economy.

“Within the scope of these major investments totaling TRY 100 billion, 26,000 new job opportunities will be generated in 2026, and our aviation ecosystem will continue to grow."

Turkish Airlines’ chairman of the board and executive committee Prof. Ahmet Bolat said: "In line with our 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.

“These investments, which will provide 26,000 new jobs in 2026, will increase to 36,000 when all phases are completed.

“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 USD 65 billion, and when we reach our 2033 goals, this figure will reach USD 144 billion."