Türkiye’s Civil Aviation Fleet Reaches 846 Aircraft

Türkiye’s civil aviation sector continued its growth in the first half of the year, with the fleet of airline operators reaching 846 aircraft and total seat capacity exceeding 166,000.

According to data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM), air travel remained strong between January and June, with 111 million passengers traveling by air during the period.

111 Million Passengers Travelled by Air

Of the total number of passengers, around 50 million traveled on domestic routes, while 61 million used international services.

The figures highlight the continued scale of Türkiye’s aviation sector, which serves both domestic travel and international connections.

Cargo Traffic Reaches 2.5 Million Tons

Air cargo traffic also increased during the first half of the year.

• Domestic flights: 441,000 tons of freight
• International flights: 2.06 million tons
• Total: 2.5 million tons

Türkiye’s Aviation Sector by Operator Type

As of the end of June, Türkiye had 14 airline operators, alongside a broad network of other aviation companies and organizations.

• 49 air taxi operators
• 101 general aviation operators
• 72 balloon operators
• 13 ultralight aircraft operators
• 165 maintenance organizations
• 48 ground handling companies
• 15 landing strips

Air taxi operators had 259 aircraft, while general aviation operators operated 632 aircraft. Balloon operators had 528 aircraft, and ultralight aviation operators had 35 aircraft.

Aviation Turnover Surges Over 23 Years

Türkiye’s aviation growth has extended beyond passenger and cargo traffic. Over the past 23 years, turnover in the sector increased 805-fold, surpassing 2.46 trillion Turkish liras.

The latest figures underline the continued expansion of Türkiye’s civil aviation industry, supported by growth in passenger travel, air cargo and the wider aviation ecosystem.