At the heart of the plan is a significant expansion of Turkish Airlines’ cargo operations.
Turkish Airlines has launched a major infrastructure investment programme worth more than TRY100 billion (2.32 billion), laying the groundwork for an expansion of its cargo, maintenance, catering and digital capabilities as it prepares for the next phase of growth.
The initiative, aligned with the growing carrier’s long-term “Vision 2033” strategy – the year the carrier will celebrate its centenary – includes eight major projects across multiple sites.
As its hub, Istanbul Airport will form the centre of the project. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the facilities were held this week, attended by senior government officials and airline executives.
Turkish Airlines plans expansion of its Istanbul Airport hub
At the heart of the plan is a significant expansion of Turkish Airlines’ cargo operations.
The second phase of the SmartIST cargo terminal at Istanbul Airport will more than double the facility’s annual handling capacity, from 2.2 million tonnes to 4.5 million tonnes.
Once fully developed later this decade, the expanded complex is intended to rank among the world’s largest air cargo hubs.
The SmartIST expansion is scheduled to be delivered in stages throughout 2027 and 2028.
Engine MRO and maintenance central to Turkish Airlines investment
A second pillar of the investment programme focuses on technical services, with Turkish Airlines seeking to expand both in-house maintenance capacity and third-party support capabilities through its Turkish Technic unit.
A new engine maintenance centre, scheduled for completion in 2027, will be capable of supporting Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 and -97 engines used on Airbus A350s, as well as the Trent 7000 powering the A330neo.
Turkish Airlines says the facility will rank among Europe’s largest new-generation engine MRO sites.
Additional aircraft maintenance hangars due to be completed in 2026 will increase Turkish Technic’s simultaneous heavy maintenance capacity by around 20%, enabling work on up to 12 aircraft at a time.
Turkish Airlines invests in catering and e-commerce logistics
The airline is also investing heavily in its support infrastructure.
A new main catering facility, expected to enter service during 2027–2028, is designed to handle meals for more than 500,000 passengers per day, placing it among the largest inflight catering operations globally.
In cargo logistics, Turkish Airlines plans to open a dedicated e-commerce complex in 2026, supporting its Widect platform, which offers integrated door-to-door freight services.
The facility is intended to strengthen the carrier’s role in global trade flows and respond to continued growth in cross-border e-commerce.
Flight training and digital resilience support Turkish Airlines growth
Beyond physical infrastructure, the programme includes a new data centre to support operational continuity and digital resilience.
Scheduled for completion later in the decade, the centre will underpin flight operations, maintenance planning and commercial systems with enhanced security and data management capabilities.
A new flight training centre, with its first phase due to come online in 2026–2027, will support pilot and crew training as Turkish Airlines scales up operations.
An additional crew terminal building at Istanbul Airport, also planned for completion in 2026, is designed to improve logistical flows between flight operations, ground handling and maintenance.
Chairman Ahmet Bolat said the investments were intended to ensure that Turkish Airlines’ fleet growth is matched by sufficient infrastructure and skilled personnel.
He added that the programme is expected to create around 26,000 new jobs in 2026 alone, rising to 36,000 as all phases are completed.
As Turkish Airlines approaches its centenary in 2033, the carrier is embarking on investments to support a larger fleet, improve operational resilience and boost Istanbul’s role as a global hub.
“With these steps, we are building not only facilities but also an ecosystem for the future of our country’s economy and aviation sector,” said Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee Ahmet Bolat.
Source: https://aerospaceglobalnews.com/news/turkish-airlines-istanbul-airport-investment/
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