Turkish Airlines has recorded carrying 51.2 million passengers in the first seven months of 2025. That’s a 4.7 % YoY increase, with an impressive 82.1% load factor across its network.
Among those, 19.6 million were international-to-international transfer passengers, up 9%, pinpointing Istanbul’s growing strength as a transit hub. In July alone, the carrier flew 9 million passengers, with 85.4% load factor for connecting travellers. Cargo and mail also saw growth with 1.21 million tonnes January to July, up 4.4%.
Expanding its reach
Turkish Airlines is flying to approximately 340 destinations in 129 countries, recently earning a Guinness World Record for serving the most countries globally. Its codeshare network spans the globe — teaming up with dozens of international airlines, including airBaltic, Air Europa, Air Canada, and more. The network continues to grow, with new flights announced to Hangzhou, Aleppo (a 13-year return), and other pivotal cities. Ambitious plans include Istanbul–Auckland (via Singapore) and as-yet-unconfirmed ultra-long-haul direct flights, pending delivery of new Airbus A350-1000 jets.
Plus, Turkish Airlines is eyeing a stake in Spain’s Air Europa to accelerate growth in Latin America and Iberia, a strategic move to boost network diversity and traffic synergies
Why travellers are choosing THY
The fact is, Turkish Airlines delights with creativity. Lots of it! The carrier was crowned “Best Airline in Europe” for the tenth consecutive year at the 2025 Skytrax Awards, earning plaudits for both economy and business class service and onboard catering. Its “Route: 6 Continents Challenge” campaign offered an astonishing one million bonus Miles to members who fly across all six continents (campaign closed early due to popularity!).
Additionally, Turkish Airlines continues to steal hearts (and clicks) with bold marketing — from celebrity collaborations like Messi and Kobe, to fun digital campaigns and sports sponsorships, all reinforcing its reputation as “Delightfully Different”.
Powering this growth is a robust fleet and expansion strategy. By the end of 2024, Turkish Airlines boasted 492 aircraft, with more than 270 new jets on order, including Airbus A321neos and A350s. This positions the airline for more long-haul routes and increased frequency, and we can’t wait to see where else they’ll be flying to.
Also read: Travelling with pets: Your guide to pet friendly airlines in the Middle East
