Turkish Airlines’ New Chair Charts More Profitable Path to 800 Aircraft

Turkish Airlines will extend the timeline for its long-term growth plan by three years. The carrier is revising its target from 2033 to 2036 as it pursues a more measured path toward becoming one of the world's largest carriers.

Murat Şeker, the new chairman of Turkish Airlines, said the company remains committed to expanding its fleet, but suggested the emphasis is moving from growth alone to how that growth is delivered.

"To reach a fleet size of 800-ish aircraft by 2033, we're going to revise the strategy. The new year target will be 2036," Şeker told Skift. Turkish Airlines currently operates around 540 aircraft.

The adjustment is one of the first major updates under Şeker, who became chairman in April after serving for nearly a decade as the airline's chief financial officer.

The 2033 date was not arbitrary. It will mark the airline's centenary, a symbolic anchor for the growth plan first published in 2023.

Murat Şeker w