Turkish Airlines looks to add nearly 380 planes by 2033

Türkiye’s national flag carrier aims to expand its fleet to 813 aircraft by 2033, its CEO said Saturday, in what would cement its role as the airline that flies to the most countries in the world. Turkish Airlines has already said publicly it wants to almost double its fleet from the current 437 aircraft – the ninth biggest fleet in the world. The additions over the next decade would make it an airline boasting the third largest fleet, THY CEO Bilal Ekşi told an event in Istanbul. The carrier is in talks with Airbus for a potential order of 355 new aircraft, which, if agreed, will be the largest in the company’s history. Deliveries under the new orders are expected to commence in 2026. Reflecting on the airline’s growth, Ekşi noted that in 2003, THY had a fleet of only 65 aircraft, ranking 35th globally. “We are currently flying to 129 countries worldwide, with 350 destinations, including Türkiye. This undoubtedly transforms Istanbul and Türkiye into a significant transfer hub,” Ekşi emphasized. He underscored the pivotal role played by Istanbul Airport in this growth, describing it as a catalyst for the expansion.<br/>