Turkish Airlines has introduced its 500th aircraft, an Airbus A350-900 (registered TC-LHH). It features a unique “TK Family” livery composed of photos of 100,000 employees and retirees..
Added to the fleet at the end of 2025, this milestone underscores the airline’s rapid expansion and commitment to innovation in global aviation and a move that serves as a cornerstone for its long-term Vision 2033 strategy. As of the end of January 2026, the total fleet reached 522 aircraft.
The airline remains on track to reach a fleet of 800+ aircraft by 2033 and 1,000 aircraft by 2036. Turkish Airlines plans to finalize the acquisition of a 26% stake in Air Europa in the second half of 2026 to strengthen its presence in the Europe-Latin America market.
A major transatlantic partnership with Southwest Airlines is slated to begin in January 2026.
Complex and an Additional Crew Terminal Building at Istanbul Airport are scheduled to enter service in 2026 to support the growing operational volume.
Strategic orders are in place for next-generation jets, including the Airbus A350-1000 and Boeing 787-10, to support ultra-long-haul and high-capacity routes.
- New Destinations for 2026 include a new connection from Istanbul to London Stansted (STN): starting March 18, 2026, Timisoara, Romania: Launching in April 2026 with five weekly flights.
- And further routes announced for early 2026 including Bissau (Guinea-Bissau), Mombasa (Kenya), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), and Yanbu (Saudi Arabia).
- Australia: Sydney flights are set to go daily by January 2026, with plans for non-stop A350-1000 flights to Australia and Auckland later in the year. Increased frequencies for the 2026 summer schedule, includie 11 weekly flights to Shanghai and daily services to Beijing and Guangzhou.
- Flights to Sulaymaniyah will increase to a daily frequency starting March 27, 2026.
