In a new report, the world's leading aviation organization IATA has highlighted Turkey's strong global position in the air transport sector and its contribution to the economy, while outlining key priorities for continuing to generate benefits from it.
„Turkey is a global aviation powerhouse. International passenger flights have increased by nearly 70% in the last decade, making Turkey the seventh largest market in the world by number of passenger flights“, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said, as quoted by Daily Sabah.
The association published a study titled „The Value of Air Transport to Turkey“ at the World Financial Forum (WFS) and IATA's World Travel Forum (WPS) held this week in Istanbul.
The report, published by IATA, quantifies the significant benefits that aviation, including aviation-related tourism, generates in terms of jobs and economic activity in Turkey, based on 2023 data.
Highlights from the 2023 data show that aviation supports and facilitates economic activity worth USD 82.4 billion when the total impact, including the wider supply chain, employee costs and tourism activities, is included, which is equivalent to 7.4% of gross domestic product (GDP), IATA said.
It also states that the sector provides 2 million jobs indirectly when the wider supply chain and tourism activities are included, 53,000 of which are directly occupied by airlines.
The aviation sector in Turkey has enjoyed a strong boom in recent decades, and strong investments in infrastructure, seen in the opening of new air hubs as well as the expansion of existing ones, have taken it to new heights. The opening of Istanbul Airport, the new runway at Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, the drive to improve the connectivity of the capital Ankara and the new terminals at Antalya Airport are some examples of the goal of improving the country's connectivity and position in global aviation.
Key Priorities
“Continued prioritization of aviation as a strategic sector, based on competitive prices, sufficient capacity and leveraging the opportunities offered by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), will be vital to maintaining Turkey's leadership in global air transport,“ said Nick Kareen, IATA's Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety and Security.
“Aviation-supported tourism contributes USD 49.6 billion to the country's GDP and employs 1.2 million people," the IATA study also said.
Furthermore, it identified three key priorities for the country to continue generating benefits, including infrastructure, capacity building and sustainability.
“As Turkey makes significant investments in airport infrastructure and digitalization, it is crucial to work with the industry to ensure cost competitiveness,“ the study also said. It also states that securing a skilled workforce in all areas of aviation will enable Turkey to fulfill its ambitious growth strategy.
Meanwhile, in terms of sustainability, it states that exploiting the opportunities that SAF offers “will be key to achieving Turkey's decarbonization goals“.
The Turkish Civil Aviation Authority announced earlier this year that the country would set mandates for airlines and jet fuel suppliers to increase the use of SAF, with the aim of limiting aviation emissions by 5% by 2030. The move is aimed at complying with the UN International Civil Aviation Organization's emissions reduction scheme, which will become mandatory in 2027.
In its report on Turkey, IATA also highlights the key role of the aviation sector in developing dynamic and efficient supply chains and in stimulating the growth of e-commerce. It also notes that 1.7 million tons of air cargo were transported through Turkey's airports in 2023, supporting the country's overall import and export volume.
Turkey is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, and its national carrier boasts an extensive network – as the airline flies to more countries than any competitor.
Turkish Airlines is also aiming to expand its fleet to over 800 aircraft as part of its strategy by 2033.
Global air travel and demand largely recovered in 2024 from COVID-19-related disruptions, and IATA believes that the sector will continue to thrive “despite the noise that exists everywhere,” as Careen notes.
In a separate report, IATA released the results of its 2025 Global Passenger Survey (GPS), highlighting two key trends that are redefining the passenger travel experience - mobile reliance is growing and biometric adoption is accelerating.
“Travellers are increasingly using their smartphones to book flights, manage payments and loyalty programs, and to handle check-in, immigration, boarding and baggage. Enthusiasm for mobile travel is higher than ever,” the statement said.