Turkish Airlines has officially closed its most successful operational year to date, reporting an all-time high of 92.6 million passengers for the full year of 2025. According to the consolidated traffic results released in February 2026, the global flag carrier saw an 8.8% increase in total passenger volume compared to the previous year.
This growth was spearheaded by a robust 12.8% surge in international-to-international transit traffic, solidifying Istanbul Airport’s position as the premier global gateway connecting the East and West. The momentum has carried directly into 2026, with the airline reporting 7.6 million passengers for January alone, marking a 10% increase in capacity compared to the same month last year.
The airline’s cargo division, Turkish Cargo, also significantly outperformed global market trends. The carrier transported 2.2 million tons of cargo and mail throughout 2025, a performance that represented an 8.4% rise over 2024. The growth trajectory accelerated further at the start of the new year, with January 2026 recording an 18.8% jump in cargo volume, totaling 178.3 thousand tons.
This surge is largely attributed to the airline’s strategic focus on e-commerce logistics and its “belly-plus-freighter” model, which utilizes the cargo space of its rapidly expanding passenger fleet alongside dedicated freighters.
Operational efficiency remained high throughout this period of rapid expansion. The overall load factor for January 2026 reached 84%, with domestic flights hitting an impressive 87.5% occupancy and international routes maintaining 83.7%. To support this increased demand, Turkish Airlines grew its fleet to 522 aircraft by the end of January 2026, up from 516 at the end of December.
The airline’s capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometers (ASK), rose to 23.7 billion in the first month of the year, underscoring its aggressive network development and the addition of new frequencies across its 356 global destinations.
Looking ahead, Turkish Airlines is moving toward a long-term goal of operating 813 aircraft by 2033. Current investments include the world’s largest aircraft catering facility and the second phase of the SmartIST terminal, which is projected to become the world’s largest cargo hub.
By leveraging Istanbul’s unique geographical advantage and continuing its digital transformation, the carrier is positioning itself to lead the next decade of global aviation, maintaining its status as the airline that flies to more countries than any other.
