Turkish Airlines Chairman on Soft Power, Fleet Growth, and the 2033 Vision

Turkish Airlines isn’t just building an airline – it’s building influence. Ahead of the company's centenary in 2033, the carrier is refining its soft power playbook.

Turkish Airlines has long styled itself as more than just a flag carrier. As the company approaches its 100th anniversary in 2033, it is doubling down on a strategy that prioritizes cultural diplomacy as much as cash flow.

The airline, 49% owned by Turkey’s sovereign wealth fund, has made no secret of its global ambitions. It already flies to more countries than any other airline, but it isn’t stopping there. “We aim to reach a fleet of over 810 aircraft by 2033,” Chairman Ahmet Bolat told Skift. If realized, this would build upon the 480 planes the company operates today.

A massive order of up to 350 aircraft from Airbus, announced in December 2023, is one of the centerpieces of this expansion.

Yet Bolat’s broader message isn’t growth for growth’s sake. Despite its lofty 2033 goals, the airline is actually dialing down its growth trajectory.

“We are not going to grow as we did before. In the past, we grew around 13% [annually]. Now our growth rate is reduced to 7-8%. So it will not be 10 [new] cities per year. In the next decade, we’re looking at maybe around 30 or 35 new cities in total.”

Bolat said expansion will also be fueled by enhanced frequencies to existing destinations to make transit times even more effici