History of Turkish Airlines in Timeline

Turkish Airlines (Türk Hava Yolları) is the national flag carrier of Turkey. As of June 2024, it operates scheduled passenger and cargo services to 352 destinations across Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Americas. Notably, it serves more countries (131) than any other airline and also the most destinations non-stop from a single airport. Turkish Cargo, the airline's cargo division, serves 82 destinations with 24 cargo aircraft. The airline also owns a low-cost subsidiary named AJet.

May 1933: Turkish Airlines Established

In May 1933, Turkish Airlines was established as Turkish State Airlines, a department of the Ministry of National Defense. The airline's initial fleet included two five-seat Curtiss Kingbirds, two four-seat Junkers F 13s, and one ten-seat Tupolev ANT-9.

1933: Airline Started Operations

In 1933, Turkish Airlines started operations with a fleet of five aircraft.

1935: Turned over to the Ministry of Public Works

In 1935, Turkish Airlines was transferred to the Ministry of Public Works and subsequently renamed General Directorate of State Airlines.

1938: Became part of the Ministry of Transportation

In 1938, Turkish Airlines became part of the Ministry of Transportation.

1945: Phased in Douglas DC-3s and Douglas C-47s

In 1945, Turkish Airlines phased in several Douglas DC-3s and Douglas C-47s aircraft.

1945: Fleet Expansion with Douglas DC-3s

In 1945, Turkish Airlines' fleet grew to 52 aircraft after the addition of Douglas DC-3s used in the Second World War, making it the largest carrier in the Middle East.

1947: Commenced international services

In 1947, Turkish Airlines commenced international services with the inauguration of Ankara–Istanbul–Athens flights. The DC-3s and C-47s enabled the carrier to expand its network.

1956: Reorganized as Türk Hava Yolları A.O.

In 1956, the Turkish government reorganized the airline under the name Türk Hava Yolları A.O., capitalized at TRY 60 million. The airline joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shortly thereafter.

1957: BOAC began supplying technical support

In 1957, British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) began supplying technical support to Turkish Airlines after acquiring a 6.5 percent shareholding, which it held for about 20 years.

1967: First Jet-Engined Aircraft

In 1967, Turkish Airlines added its first jet-engined aircraft, a Douglas DC-9, to its fleet.

1967: Began operating first jet, McDonnell Douglas DC-9

In 1967, Turkish Airlines began operating its first jet, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9.

1971: Added three Boeing 707 jets

In 1971, Turkish Airlines added three Boeing 707 jets to its fleet.

1972: First Wide-Body Aircraft

In 1972, Turkish Airlines added its first wide-body aircraft, a Douglas DC-10, to its fleet.

1972: McDonnell Douglas DC-10 put into service

In 1972, the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 was put into service by Turkish Airlines.

1973: Fokker F28 put into service

In 1973, the Fokker F28 was put into service by Turkish Airlines.

1974: Crash of Turkish Airlines Flight 981

In 1974, Turkish Airlines Flight 981 crashed due to an aircraft design flaw, resulting in the deaths of 346 people. At the time, THY981 was the worst plane crash of all time.

1983: Suffered seven accidents between 1974 and 1983

Between 1974 and 1983, Turkish Airlines endured hijackings and suffered seven accidents, impacting its reputation.

1983: Government Recognized THY's Importance

In 1983, a new government recognized THY's importance as Turkey's gateway to the world, beginning the airline's makeover into a modern operation. Security was intensified.

1984: Built new technical center at Yeşilköy Airport

In 1984, THY built a new, state-of-the-art technical center at Yeşilköy Airport. The company's capital was raised to 60 billion TL as it was classified as a state economic enterprise.

1985: Began operating Airbus A310s

In 1985, Turkish Airlines began operating Airbus A310s.

1986: Added flights to Singapore

In 1986, Turkish Airlines added flights to Singapore.

1987: Added route to New York City via Brussels

In 1987, Turkish Airlines added a route to New York City via Brussels.

1987: Posted losses

In 1987, the company posted losses, largely due to high payments on its dozen new Airbus A310s.

1988: Posted losses

In 1988, Turkish Airlines posted losses largely due to high payments on its dozen new Airbus A310s.

1990: Ordered five Airbus A340 aircraft

In 1990, Turkish Airlines ordered five Airbus A340 aircraft with the option for five more to enable non-stop flights to North American and East Asian destinations.

1993: First A340 was delivered

In 1993, the first Airbus A340 aircraft was delivered to Turkish Airlines.

July 1994: Launched nonstop flight to New York City

In July 1994, Turkish Airlines launched a nonstop flight to New York City.

1995: Capital raised, Boeing 727s converted to freighters

In 1995, Turkish Airlines' capital was raised to 10 trillion TL. The airline also converted three of its Boeing 727s to dedicated freighters.

1996: Domestic market was deregulated

In 1996, the domestic market in Turkey was deregulated, allowing new scheduled competition from charter airlines. THY entered into marketing agreements with other international airlines to enhance their competitiveness.

1997: Flights to Chicago started

In 1997, THY began operating flights to Chicago as its second destination in the US. The company teamed with Japan Airlines to offer service to Osaka and Tokyo.

November 1998: Part of Qualiflyer frequent-flyer program

Since November 1998, Turkish Airlines had been part of the Qualiflyer alliance's frequent-flyer program. On 29 October 2000, THY withdrew from the Swissair-led Qualiflyer alliance.

1998: Service to Osaka and Tokyo

In 1998, THY teamed with Japan Airlines to offer service to Osaka and Tokyo. Jointly operated flights soon followed with Austrian Airlines, Swissair, and Croatia Airlines.

January 2000: New terminal opened at Istanbul Atatürk Airport

In January 2000, a new terminal opened at Istanbul's Istanbul Atatürk Airport.

October 2000: Withdrew from the Swissair-led Qualiflyer alliance

On 29 October 2000, THY withdrew from the Swissair-led Qualiflyer alliance to help attract a strategic investor for their privatization. The airline had been part of the alliance's frequent-flyer program since November 1998.

2000: Miles&Smiles Inauguration

In 2000, Turkish Airlines inaugurated Miles&Smiles, its frequent-flyer programme, after leaving Qualiflyer. Miles can be earned and used on Turkish Airlines flights and flights operated by the Star Alliance network.

2001: Antalya-Frankfurt route added

In 2001, an Antalya-Frankfurt route was added through a code-sharing agreement with Sun Express.

2001: Economic crisis and September 11 attacks

Throughout most of 2001, Turkey underwent an economic crisis, leading to a reduction in traffic on domestic routes. THY managed to survive after the September 11 attacks on the United States without a government bailout or mass layoffs.

2003: Tourism was rising

In 2003, 12 million people visited the country. Tourism was rising, with 20 million people expected to visit the country in 2005.

2003: War in Iraq and SARS epidemic

In 2003, the war in Iraq prompted Turkish Airlines to close some routes in the Persian Gulf, while flights to Asia were suspended during the SARS epidemic. The airline recovered, increasing traffic and adding service to Delhi after an 11-year lapse.

November 2004: Establishment of Turkish Airlines Flight Academy

On 10 November 2004, the 28th THY Board established the Turkish Airlines Flight Academy (TAFA).

2004: Fleet expansion program kicked off

In 2004, a fleet expansion program kicked off, helping THY maintain one of the youngest fleets in Europe. In July, the airline announced a $2.8 billion order of 36 jets from Airbus, plus an order for 15 Boeing 737s.

2004: Privatization program revived

In 2004, the privatization program was revived with a public offering of 20% of shares on the Istanbul Stock Exchange. The Turkish government owned 75% of shares after the offering, which raised $170 million.

2004: Aircraft Order from Boeing and Airbus

Throughout 2004, Turkish Airlines ordered over 50 aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus.

2005: Divested holding in Cyprus Turkish Airlines

In 2005, THY divested its 50% holding in Cyprus Turkish Airlines (Kıbrıs Türk Hava Yolları). Tourism was rising, with 20 million people expected to visit the country in 2005 versus 12 million in 2003.

May 2006: TAFA Starts Training

On 1 May 2006, Turkish Airlines Flight Academy (TAFA) started training with 16 cadets.

December 2006: Integration process for Star Alliance

In December 2006, Turkish Airlines began an 18-month integration process to join the Star Alliance, which it eventually joined on April 1, 2008.

2006: Incorporation of Turkish Technic

In 2006, Turkish Airlines' maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) center, Turkish Technic, was incorporated. It is responsible for the maintenance of Turkish Airlines and other third-party aircraft within eight hangars.

April 2008: Joined the Star Alliance network

On April 1, 2008, Turkish Airlines became a member of the Star Alliance network.

2008: Leasing and Ordering of Boeing 777-300s

In 2008, Turkish Airlines leased three Boeing 777-300s and later ordered 12 more from Boeing.

January 2010: Opening of Turkish Engine Center

In January 2010, Turkish Technic opened an engine center in partnership with Pratt & Whitney, called TEC (Turkish Engine Center), at Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW). The facility provides engine MRO services to customers worldwide.

2010: Planned to hire another 2,000 by 2010

By 2010, Turkish Technic was planning to hire another 2,000 workers. THY also had three flight simulators and offered flight training services. The airline was planning to spend $350 million on a new technical and training facility at Istanbul's underutilized Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.

2010: Sponsorships

Since 2010, Turkish Airlines has been the primary sponsor of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and was among the sponsors of the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

December 2011: Plans to modernize Aden Adde International Airport

In December 2011, the Turkish government unveiled plans to modernize the Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia.

March 2012: Resumed flights to Somalia

In March 2012, Turkish Airlines became the first international carrier to resume flights to Somalia since the start of that country's civil war in the early 1990s.

October 2013: Sponsorship Extension with Euroleague

On 22 October 2013, Turkish Airlines and Euroleague signed an agreement to prolong their existing sponsorship deal by five years, lasting until 2020.

2013: Increased flight points to 241 destinations

By the end of 2013, Turkish Airlines had increased their number of flight points to 241 destinations worldwide (199 international and 42 domestic).

2013: Order of Almost 200 Aircraft

In 2013, Turkish Airlines placed an order for almost 200 aircraft.

2013: Sponsor of Turkish Airlines Open

Since 2013, Turkish Airlines has been the sponsor of the Turkish Airlines Open, a European Tour golf tournament played annually in Turkey.

2014: Kit Sponsor of Galatasaray

In 2014, Turkish Airlines became the kit sponsor of Galatasaray for the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League and Bosnian club FK Sarajevo. The airline has continued its sponsorship of Galatasaray and has also been the kit sponsor for the European campaigns of other Turkish clubs such as Trabzonspor and Başakşehir.

December 2015: Sponsorship Deal with UEFA for Euro 2016

On 10 December 2015, Turkish Airlines and UEFA signed a sponsorship deal for the UEFA Euro 2016, making Turkish Airlines the first airline sponsor of UEFA European Championship tournaments.

January 2016: Partnership with Warner Bros. for Batman v Superman

On 29 January 2016, Turkish Airlines announced its partnership with Warner Bros. to sponsor the film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. In the movie, a pivotal scene unfolds aboard a Turkish Airlines A330. Additionally, Turkish Airlines teamed up with Turkish tourist agencies for the film Non-Transferable.

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August 2016: Announced profit collapse

In August 2016, Turkish Airlines announced a profit collapse to a loss of 198 million Euros for the second quarter of 2016 while expecting an overall loss of 10 million passengers for 2016. The airline also announced an overall record loss of 1.9 billion Turkish Lira ($644.4 million) for the first half of 2016.

2016: Federal Aviation Administration temporarily banned flights

Following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt, the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily banned flights between Turkey and the United States. This ban was lifted on 18 July, and Turkish Airlines resumed flights to the U.S. on 19 July after a three-day disruption.

2016: Sponsorship Deal with UEFA for Euro 2016

On 10 December 2015, Turkish Airlines and UEFA signed a sponsorship deal for the UEFA Euro 2016, making Turkish Airlines the first airline sponsor of UEFA European Championship tournaments.

2017: Announced significant reductions in operations

For the upcoming 2016–2017 schedule period, Turkish Airlines announced significant reductions in operations with frequency cuts to 45 European and 13 intercontinental routes.

2017: Financial recovery

In 2017, Turkish Airlines recovered, with financial results showing an almost 35% increase in turnover and a return to profitability.

March 2018: Order of Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350-900

In March 2018, Turkish Airlines ordered 25 each of the Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with deliveries starting in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

September 2018: Sponsorship Agreement with Lega Basket Serie A

On 14 September 2018, Turkish Airlines and Lega Basket Serie A, the top-tier professional basketball league in Italy, signed a sponsorship agreement, making the airline an official partner for the 2018–19 LBA season.

February 2019: Partial Sponsorship for Drogheda United

In February 2019, Turkish Airlines arranged to become partial sponsors for League of Ireland First Division side Drogheda United.

August 2019: Main Sponsor of Club Atlético River Plate

In August 2019, Turkish Airlines reached an agreement with Club Atlético River Plate to become the main sponsor of the Argentine sports club for the next three seasons.

2019: Boeing 787-9 Delivery Started

Delivery of the Boeing 787-9 aircraft ordered in March 2018, started in 2019.

2020: Airbus A350-900 Delivery Started

Delivery of the Airbus A350-900 aircraft ordered in March 2018, started in 2020.

2020: Intention to withdraw from international routes

In 2020, Turkish Airlines announced its intention to withdraw from international routes at Sabiha Gökçen Airport by transferring these routes to its low-cost subsidiary, AnadoluJet.

2020: End of Sponsorship Deal with Euroleague

On 22 October 2013, Turkish Airlines and Euroleague signed an agreement to prolong their existing sponsorship deal by five years until 2020.

2021: Official Global Sponsors of UEFA Champions League

Prior to the start of the 2022–23 season, Turkish Airlines became the official global sponsors of the UEFA Champions League, Super Cup, UEFA Youth League, and Futsal Champions League for the remainder of the 2021–24 cycle, after UEFA agreed to sponsor in the next two seasons.

January 2022: İlker Aycı Resigns as Chairman

On 26 January 2022, İlker Aycı resigned from his position as chairman of Turkish Airlines. The next day, Ahmet Bolat was elected as the new chairman, with Bilal Ekşi holding the deputy chairman and CEO positions.

February 2022: Turkish Cargo Relocated

In February 2022, Turkish Cargo, the airline's freight subsidiary, relocated all cargo flights and operations from their former base at Istanbul Atatürk Airport to the new Istanbul Airport.

2022: Official Global Sponsors of UEFA Champions League

February 2023: Confirmed plans to spin off AnadoluJet

In February 2023, Turkish Airlines confirmed plans to spin off AnadoluJet from an incorporated brand name into an independent airline.

May 2023: Purchase of New Aircraft

On 11 May 2023, Turkish Airlines announced plans to purchase around 600 new aircraft over the next 10 years, primarily from Airbus and Boeing, with potential consideration of aircraft from "another manufacturer".

May 2024: Fleet Size

As of May 2024, Turkish Airlines operates a fleet of 407 aircraft, comprising 13 different passenger aircraft types.

June 2024: Operates scheduled services to 352 destinations

As of June 2024, Turkish Airlines operates scheduled services to 352 destinations across Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Americas. The airline serves more destinations non-stop from a single airport than any other airline globally, flying to 131 countries, also more than any other airline.

November 2024: Inaugural Flight to Sydney

On 29 November 2024, Turkish Airlines flight TK175 successfully landed in Sydney from Istanbul, marking the inaugural flight to the capital of New South Wales and the airline's second route to Australia after Melbourne.

December 2024: Guinness World Record for Connecting the Highest Number of Countries

In December 2024, Turkish Airlines officially earned a Guinness World Record title for connecting the highest number of countries, with flights to 131 countries.

December 2024: Flights to Santiago Announced

On 18 December 2024, Turkish Airlines announced the commencement of flights to Santiago, Chile, which becomes the 10th country served in the Americas, bringing the total destinations in the region to 26.

January 2025: Flights to Benghazi Announced

On 18 December 2024, Turkish Airlines announced the launch of flights to Benghazi, commencing on 14 January 2025. This marks the return of Turkish Airlines to the most populous city in Libya after more than a decade.