ISTANBUL- Turkish Airlines (TK) faces mounting challenges in 2025, with operational hurdles and fleet constraints impacting its Istanbul-based operations. The launch of its low-cost subsidiary AJet (VF) adds complexity, as competition and service issues threaten growth.
In 2025, the airline group’s ambitious expansion continues under pressure from grounded aircraft, increased competition, and operational setbacks, even as its core long-haul and short-haul routes remain essential for growth.
This article explores Turkish Airlines’ busiest international routes, fleet struggles, and operational performance, drawing from a detailed fleet and network analysis as of March 2025.
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Turkish Airlines (The Year of Troy Livery), TC-JTP, Airbus A321-231, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73594142Turkish Airlines Busiest International Routes
Turkish Airlines (TK) maintains one of the world’s most expansive international route networks. In 2025, Turkish Airlines’ busiest long-haul and short-haul routes continue to drive passenger traffic despite operational and fleet-related challenges.
Here are the top 20 busiest international routes of Turkish Airlines.
| 1 | Istanbul–London (IST–LON) | 1,449,000 | 45% | 652,050 | –12% |
| 2 | Istanbul–Paris (IST–CDG) | 890,000 | 54% | 480,600 | –15% |
| 3 | Istanbul–Dubai (IST–DXB) | 848,000 | 34% | 288,320 | –6% |
| 4 | Istanbul–New York (IST–JFK) | 837,000 | 100% | 837,000 | +6.6% |
| 5 | Istanbul–Amsterdam (IST–AMS) | 764,000 | 54% | 412,560 | –12% |
| 6 | Istanbul–Berlin (IST–BER) | 594,000 | 57% | 338,580 | –13% |
| 7 | Istanbul–Frankfurt (IST–FRA) | 591,000 | 47% | 277,770 | –12% |
| 8 | Istanbul–Jeddah (IST–JED) | 585,000 | 41% | 239,850 | +1% |
| 9 | Istanbul–Duesseldorf (IST–DUS) | 557,000 | 47% | 261,790 | –17% |
| 10 | Istanbul–Vienna (IST–VIE) | 536,000 | 53% | 284,080 | –13% |
| 11 | Istanbul–Munich (IST–MUC) | 521,000 | 57% | 296,970 | –17% |
| 12 | Istanbul–Tashkent (IST–TAS) | 509,000 | 49% | 249,410 | –6% |
| 13 | Istanbul–Bangkok (IST–BKK) | 504,000 | 74% | 372,960 | –14% |
| 14 | Istanbul–Milan (IST–MXP) | 496,000 | 57% | 282,720 | –13% |
| 15 | Istanbul–Madrid (IST–MAD) | 476,000 | 67% | 318,920 | –1% |
| 16 | Istanbul–Zurich (IST–ZRH) | 472,000 | 57% | 268,040 | –14% |
| 17 | Istanbul–Barcelona (IST–BCN) | 464,000 | 67% | 311,880 | –3% |
| 18 | Istanbul–Hamburg (IST–HAM) | 460,000 | 56% | 257,600 | +3% |
| 19 | Istanbul–Rome (IST–FCO) | 454,000 | 55% | 249,700 | –12% |
| 20 | Istanbul–Baku (IST–GYD) | 453,000 | 41% | 185,730 | –18% |
Photo: By Adam Moreira (AEMoreira042281) – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=815704421. Istanbul – London (IST–LON)
- Passenger Volume: 1,449,000
- Market Share: 45%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 652,050
- YoY Growth Rate: -12%
Istanbul–London remains the busiest international route for Turkish Airlines. Despite a 12% year‑over‑year decline in total traffic, TK’s strong 45% share underscores its vital role connecting two global financial and cultural hubs.
2. Istanbul – Paris (IST–CDG)
- Passenger Volume: 890,000
- Market Share: 54%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 480,600
- YoY Growth Rate: -15%
Istanbul–Paris ranks second by volume. A 15% drop reflects competitive pressure from European carriers, but TK retains a majority share, reinforcing its importance on this key business and tourism route.
3. Istanbul – Dubai (IST–DXB)
- Passenger Volume: 848,000
- Market Share: 34%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 288,320
- YoY Growth Rate: -6%
Connecting two major Middle Eastern hubs, Istanbul–Dubai saw a modest 6% traffic reduction. TK’s one‑third share highlights intense competition yet sustained transfer and leisure demand on this strategic link.
4. Istanbul – New York (IST–JFK)
- Passenger Volume: 837,000
- Market Share: 100%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 837,000
- YoY Growth Rate: +6.6%
Istanbul–New York is fully served by Turkish Airlines. A 6.6% rise in ridership underlines robust transatlantic demand and confirms this route as a flagship long‑haul service in TK’s network.
Photo: Eurospot5. Istanbul – Amsterdam (IST–AMS)
- Passenger Volume: 764,000
- Market Share: 54%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 412,560
- YoY Growth Rate: -12%
Amsterdam remains a top European destination. Although segment traffic fell 12%, TK maintains over half the market, catering to both business and leisure travelers on this high‑frequency corridor.
6. Istanbul – Berlin (IST–BER)
- Passenger Volume: 594,000
- Market Share: 57%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 338,580
- YoY Growth Rate: -13%
Istanbul–Berlin ranks among TK’s leading short‑haul routes. The 13% traffic decline reflects economic headwinds, but TK’s 57% share highlights its dominant position in German leisure and VFR markets.
7. Istanbul – Frankfurt (IST–FRA)
- Passenger Volume: 591,000
- Market Share: 47%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 277,770
- YoY Growth Rate: -12%
Frankfurt serves as a major business gateway. Despite a 12% drop in total volume, TK’s near‑half share demonstrates sustained demand from corporate and connecting passengers.
8. Istanbul – Jeddah (IST–JED)
- Passenger Volume: 585,000
- Market Share: 41%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 239,850
- YoY Growth Rate: +1%
This religious‑VFR market shows modest growth. TK’s 41% share reflects balanced competition with Saudi carriers while meeting steady pilgrim and community travel needs.
9. Istanbul – Duesseldorf (IST–DUS)
- Passenger Volume: 557,000
- Market Share: 47%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 261,790
- YoY Growth Rate: -17%
Istanbul–Duesseldorf experienced a 17% downturn. Nevertheless, TK maintains nearly half the route, driven by diaspora traffic and robust feeder connections.
10. Istanbul – Vienna (IST–VIE)
- Passenger Volume: 536,000
- Market Share: 53%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 284,080
- YoY Growth Rate: -13%
Vienna is a strategic Central European link. A 13% fall in segment traffic reflects broader market softness, but TK’s majority share underscores its competitive network strength.
11. Istanbul – Munich (IST–MUC)
- Passenger Volume: 521,000
- Market Share: 57%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 296,970
- YoY Growth Rate: -17%
Munich is a key German hub. A sharp 17% decline contrasts with TK’s sustained market dominance, highlighting network resilience amid shifting demand.
Photo: Nabil Molinari | Flickr12. Istanbul – Tashkent (IST–TAS)
- Passenger Volume: 509,000
- Market Share: 49%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 249,410
- YoY Growth Rate: -6%
Tashkent anchors TK’s Central Asia strategy. A small traffic dip shows regional volatility, but TK retains nearly half of all travelers via Istanbul.
13. Istanbul – Bangkok (IST–BKK)
- Passenger Volume: 504,000
- Market Share: 74%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 372,960
- YoY Growth Rate: -14%
Bangkok is TK’s top Asian long‑haul short‑haul intersection. Despite a 14% drop, TK’s commanding 74% share confirms its premium positioning on this leisure‑driven route.
14. Istanbul – Milan (IST–MXP)
- Passenger Volume: 496,000
- Market Share: 57%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 282,720
- YoY Growth Rate: -13%
Milan remains vital for TK’s European network. A moderate decline aligns with regional trends, yet the airline maintains a clear majority share of this corridor.
15. Istanbul – Madrid (IST–MAD)
- Passenger Volume: 476,000
- Market Share: 67%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 318,920
- YoY Growth Rate: -1%
Madrid shows remarkable stability with only a 1% drop. TK’s strong 67% share highlights its leading position in Spain–Turkey travel flows.
16. Istanbul – Zurich (IST–ZRH)
- Passenger Volume: 472,000
- Market Share: 57%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 268,040
- YoY Growth Rate: -14%
Zurich is a core European destination. Despite a 14% decline, TK holds over half the market, underscoring its breadth in Western Europe.
17. Istanbul – Barcelona (IST–BCN)
- Passenger Volume: 464,000
- Market Share: 67%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 311,880
- YoY Growth Rate: -3%
Barcelona is a key leisure route. A modest 3% downturn contrasts with TK’s two‑thirds market share, reflecting strong appeal for both tourism and business.
18. Istanbul – Hamburg (IST–HAM)
- Passenger Volume: 460,000
- Market Share: 56%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 257,600
- YoY Growth Rate: +3%
Hamburg sees a slight rebound. A 3% traffic gain and TK’s majority share highlight recovery in Northern European markets.
19. Istanbul – Rome (IST–FCO)
- Passenger Volume: 454,000
- Market Share: 55%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 249,700
- YoY Growth Rate: -12%
Rome remains an important leisure and VFR link. A 12% drop aligns with broader short‑haul softness, though TK sustains over half the traffic.
20. Istanbul – Baku (IST–GYD)
- Passenger Volume: 453,000
- Market Share: 41%
- Turkish Airlines Passengers: 185,730
- YoY Growth Rate: -18%
Baku is a core Caucasus market. An 18% decline reflects regional volatility, but TK’s consistent 41% share underscores its network depth.
Photo: By byeangel from Tsingtao, China – TC-JJJ | Turkish Airlines | Boeing 777-3F2(ER) | ICN, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39849224Turkish Airlines Route Network
Turkish Airlines (TK) operates a massive network with 58 million passengers annually on short-haul routes, contributing 44% of its Available Seat Kilometers (ASK) and generating $6.6 billion in ticket revenue over the past 12 months.
However, the airline faces significant challenges. The launch of AJet (VF) has strained mainline operations by diverting narrowbody capacity, while Pratt & Whitney engine issues grounded portions of its Airbus A321neo fleet. Boeing delivery delays further complicate fleet planning.
Meanwhile, Pegasus Airlines (PC), a competitor, gains ground in the ultra-competitive Turkish market, unhindered by similar technical issues.
Operationally, Turkish Airlines struggles with passenger dissatisfaction due to delays, cancellations, and service complaints, including reported bedbug incidents on long-haul flights.
Compensation disputes and labor shortages in key European hubs like London Heathrow (LHR) and Frankfurt (FRA) exacerbate the situation.
Regulatory challenges in markets like Delhi (DEL) and a slower-than-expected AJet (VF) integration have led to disappointing Q1 financial results.
Despite these hurdles, Turkish Airlines relies on its strong cargo division and an aggressive leasing strategy to add 36 Airbus aircraft to AJet’s (VF) fleet, aiming to meet growth targets.
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Turkish Airlines, TC-JOE, Airbus A330-303, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=115995460Fleet and Network Performance
Turkish Airlines manages a diverse medium/long-haul fleet, with aircraft like the A350-900, A330-300, 777-300, 787-9, and A330-200, assessed for commercial and operational performance via the COFI score.
The A350-900 scores 2.6, reflecting challenges with passenger (3.2) and revenue (4.3) market shares, impacted by a 5.2 cost/seat performance.
The A330-300 (3.3) and 777-300 (3.5) show similar trends, with network aggressiveness (2.5–3.1) and yield performance (2.6–3.3) indicating competitive pressure.
Fleet Composition
| A350-900 | 24 | 66 | 2.3 years | 327 | Rolls-Royce (RR) |
| A330-300 | 37 | 0 | 11.2 years | 292 | GE / Rolls-Royce |
| 777-300 | 33 | 0 | 11.4 years | 354 | General Electric (GE) |
| 787-9 | 23 | 10 | 4.2 years | 300 | General Electric (GE) |
| A330-200 | 12 | 0 | 17.1 years | 266 | GE / PW / RR |
| A350-1000 | 0 | 15 | – | – | Rolls-Royce (RR) |
The fleet includes 24 A350-900s, 37 A330-300s, and 33 777-300s in service, with 10 787-9s on order. Average fleet age ranges from 4.2 to 17.1 years, with seat counts from 292 to 354.
Engine types vary (GE, RR, P&W), with P&W issues grounding A321neo aircraft, reducing capacity. The 12 A330-200s (17.1 years) score 2.4, with a 6.7 aircraft utilization rate.
Opportunities arise as capacity cuts, driven by AJet’s launch and P&W engine issues, have strained the long-haul fleet, losing market share.
However, rebalancing capacity between narrowbody and widebody fleets could mitigate this, potentially improving financial results starting this year.
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Turkish Airlines, TC-LCF, Boeing 737-8 MAX, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73594146Short-Haul Fleet Snapshot
| A321neo | 56 | 209 | 3.3 | 185 | PW |
| 737-800 | 40 | 0 | 10.3 | 151 | CFM |
| A320neo | 6 (leased) | 0 | 2.8 | 186 | PW |
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Turkish Airlines, TC-LKA, Boeing 777-36N ER, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87337852Long-Haul Fleet Snapshot
| A350-900 | 24 | 66 | 2.3 | 327 | Rolls-Royce (RR) |
| 777-300ER | 33 | 0 | 11.4 | 354 | GE |
| 787-9 | 23 | 10 | 4.2 | 300 | GE |
Commercial & Operational Performance
Performance is tracked using the COFI (Commercial & Operational Fit Index), which considers factors like market share, network aggressiveness, cost, yield, and utilization.
| A350-900 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 7.2 | 6.1 |
| A330-300 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 6.0 | 7.3 | 6.6 |
| 777-300 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 6.2 | 7.3 | 6.0 |
| 787-9 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 5.2 | 6.2 | 6.6 |
| A330-200 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 5.8 | 8.8 | 7.2 |
Photo: Paul LinkOperational Challenges
Turkish Airlines is navigating 2025 with multiple headwinds:
- Grounded A321neo Fleet: Impacting both Turkish Airlines and AJet due to Pratt & Whitney engine issues.
- Capacity Shift to AJet: Reducing core feed for long-haul operations.
- Competitor Pressure: Pegasus Airlines (PC) and global carriers like Emirates (EK) are leveraging their fleet advantage.
- Passenger Experience Issues: Reports of delays, cancellations, and service lapses—including bedbug incidents—have drawn criticism.
- Fleet Delivery Delays: Boeing setbacks are disrupting narrowbody planning.
- Labor & Regulatory Friction: Especially in Europe and India, slowing growth and integration.
Strategic Outlook
Despite declining financial indicators in Q1 2025, there are signs of recovery potential:
- AJet’s commercial momentum is slowly gaining strength.
- Widebody markets show stability, particularly in the U.S. and East Asian routes.
- Rebalancing fleet utilization between narrowbody and widebody aircraft is key.
- Improving service quality and operational efficiency will be essential.
Photo: By KM B – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80964383Data Sources and Methodology
The data for Turkish Airlines’ busiest international routes is provided by AvBench. The analysis draws from Milanamos (traffic, revenue, and schedule data) and Ch-aviation (fleet data).
Milanamos provides 1.5 billion origin-destination records, 2.4 billion flight segment records, and 800 million flight schedule records, sourced from OAG, IATA BSP, GDS, and Airports Council International. Ch-aviation offers comprehensive fleet data, ensuring accurate benchmarking.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
Turkish Airlines’ Free Half Day Tour for Istanbul Transit Passengers
The post Turkish Airlines Busiest International Routes in 2025, No.4 Will Surprise You appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
