Turkish Airlines has launched a 100bn Turkish lira ($2.3bn) investment initiative that aims to strengthen Turkiye's “aviation infrastructure and further advance its competitive edge”.
As part of this investment initiative, the airline has broken ground on eight new facilities at the airline's hub at Istanbul Airport.
One project includes its SmartIST Phase 2 Cargo Terminal, which is expected to add 4.5 million tonnes of annual capacity. The facility is anticipated to have a phased completion between 2027 and 2028.
Another is its Technic engine maintenance centre, set to be complete in 2027, which will service Trent XWB-84, XWB-97 and Trent 7000 Rolls-Royce engines.
Additional aircraft maintenance hangars will be built under Turkish Technic and are planned for completion within 2026. These will create simultaneous maintenance capacity for 12 aircraft, increasing capacity by around 20%.
The airline's new catering facility, expected to be completed during the 2027-2028 period, will cater up to 500,000 passengers per day.
The investment includes a new Istanbul Data Centre, which will “form the digital backbone of operational continuity”. This is expected to become operational during the 2027-2028 period, while the first phase of its flight training centre is scheduled to be complete between this year and 2027.
Other centres include its e-commerce complex and an additional crew terminal building. These are expected to be completed this year.
The airline said this investment is part of its 2033 objectives to become one of the world's five largest fleets, coinciding with its centennial year since it launched as Turkish State Airlines in 1933.