ISTANBUL- Turkish Airlines (TK) carried more than 92 million passengers last year, compared with around 46 million for British Airways (BA).
British Airways remains focused on London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and its premium long-haul network, while Turkish Airlines is using Istanbul as a major global connecting hub across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Turkish Airlines Passenger Growth
Turkish Airlines now carries around twice as many passengers as British Airways, highlighting the scale reached by the Istanbul-based carrier.
Its fleet has grown at a similar pace. Turkish Airlines operates around 559 aircraft, roughly twice the size of British Airways’ fleet, and plans to increase that figure to almost 850 aircraft over the coming years.
Chairman Murat Şeker said Turkish Airlines is now “ahead of our peers,” while stressing that becoming the world’s largest international airline is not the company’s main objective.
Instead, the airline aims to strengthen its role as a major connecting carrier.
“With our fleet and our geography, Turkish Airlines can be the super-connector.”
Murat Şeker, Chairman, Turkish Airlines
Istanbul Airport is an important part of Turkish Airlines’ growth strategy. The airport has significantly more room to expand than British Airways’ main hub at Heathrow.
In July, Istanbul Airport handled 8.15 million passengers, compared with 7.86 million at Heathrow. The difference highlights Istanbul’s growing importance as an international aviation hub.
According to The Times, the combination of Istanbul’s geographic position, airport capacity and Turkish Airlines’ expanding fleet gives the carrier further room to grow its international network.
Turkish Airlines Expands Its UK Network
The UK remains a very important market for Turkish Airlines. The airline currently serves:
- London Heathrow
- London Gatwick
- London Stansted
- Manchester
- Birmingham
- Edinburgh
Şeker has also confirmed an ambition to add London City Airport in the future.
Further regional expansion could follow. Glasgow, Newcastle and Bristol would be potential candidates for new Turkish Airlines services, offering direct access to Istanbul and the airline’s wider network across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
There is currently no confirmation that Glasgow, Newcastle or Bristol are under consideration, and no services to these airports have been announced.
Turkish Airlines is also preparing to introduce new long-range Airbus A350 aircraft from 2028.
The aircraft are expected to support nonstop services between Istanbul and Australia as the airline continues developing its global network.
This expansion would complement Turkish Airlines’ wider strategy of using Istanbul as a major connecting point between different international markets.
British Airways’ Different Network Strategy
British Airways remains heavily focused on Heathrow and its premium long-haul network, particularly across the North Atlantic.
The two airlines therefore operate very different networks. Turkish Airlines benefits from fleet growth, Istanbul’s geographic position and greater airport capacity, while British Airways remains centered on London’s premium long-haul market.
Turkish Airlines’ continuing expansion means the gap in overall passenger and fleet scale could continue to widen.
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