Airline profile · Europe

Turkish Airlines

TürkiyeFull-service carrierStar Alliance memberSince 1933

TKIATA code

THYICAO code

Turkish Airlines (IATA TK, ICAO THY) is the flag carrier of Türkiye, a full-service airline founded in 1933 and based at Istanbul Airport. It is a Star Alliance member, carried 92.6 million passengers in 2025 and flew to 356 destinations in 132 countries, which it says is more countries than any other airline.

Direct connection available on ReservationHub

Founded: 1933
Headquarters: Istanbul, Türkiye
Country: Türkiye
Main hubs: Istanbul Airport (IST)
Airline type: Full-service carrier
Alliance: Star Alliance
Loyalty: Miles&Smiles
Ownership: Listed on Borsa Istanbul. At the end of 2024 the Türkiye Wealth Fund held 49.12% and the free float was 50.88%, with a residual Group C share held by the Privatisation Administration.
Callsign: TURKISH
Website: turkishairlines.com

How travel agents book Turkish Airlines

GDS distribution

Turkish Airlines content is sold through the GDSs over legacy EDIFACT connections. Since 1 October 2024 these GDS-issued tickets carry the Distribution Cost Recovery Charge (DCRC).

NDC

Turkish Airlines sells NDC content through TKCONNECT, launched on 1 October 2024. Agencies can connect directly to its IATA-certified NDC APIs, use a certified aggregator (named partners include Travelfusion, Verteil, DRCT, Mystifly, Nuflights and Theta), or book on the TKCONNECT web portal. NDC-only promotional fares and ancillaries are available.

Direct channels

Direct channels include turkishairlines.com, the mobile app, call centres and the airline's agency tools (Troya, Quickres, Websagent and Easyticket), as well as TKCONNECT.

Notes for travel agents

The DCRC is USD 30 per ticket (EUR 25.50, JPY 4,800) from 1 May 2026, collected in YQ on original EDIFACT GDS tickets. It does not apply to TKCONNECT or direct channels, infants or EMDs, and several origin markets are exempt. Previously exempt TMCs and cruise agencies pay USD 10 per ticket from 1 June 2026.

On ReservationHub

Turkish Airlines is one of the direct airline connections listed on our integrations page, alongside GDS (Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport) and NDC content. Agencies get it in the SaaS platform; developers through the Travel API.

History of Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines began on 20 May 1933 as the State Airlines Administration, a small government operation with five aircraft and around 30 staff. Its first overseas route, Istanbul to Athens, opened in 1947, and the company adopted the Turkish Airlines name and joined IATA in 1955.

The airline moved from piston aircraft to turboprops in the late 1950s and added wide-body jets in the 1970s, starting with the McDonnell Douglas DC-10. Its Miles&Smiles frequent flyer programme launched in 1989, and the carrier introduced e-tickets and electronic check-in in 2003.

Turkish Airlines joined Star Alliance in 2008. Its long-term strategy rests on Istanbul's position between Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, which lets it connect a very large number of city pairs over one hub. Operations moved from Atatürk Airport to the new Istanbul Airport, which the airline now calls home.

The group also includes the low-cost brand AJet, a 100% subsidiary, plus engineering (Turkish Technic), ground services and cargo businesses. Shares trade on Borsa Istanbul, with the Türkiye Wealth Fund as the largest shareholder.

Milestones

1933Founded on 20 May as the State Airlines Administration with five aircraft.
1947First international route, Istanbul to Athens.
1955Adopted the Turkish Airlines name and joined IATA.
1989Launched the Miles&Smiles frequent flyer programme.
2008Joined Star Alliance.
2024Launched TKCONNECT, its NDC sales platform for agencies, from 1 October.
2025Carried a record 92.6 million passengers and ended the year with 516 aircraft.

Fleet

Airbus A319 Airbus A320/A321 (ceo and neo) Airbus A330-200/300 Airbus A350-900 Boeing 737-800/900ER Boeing 737 MAX 8/9 Boeing 777-300ER Boeing 787-9 Airbus A330-200F and Boeing 777F (cargo)

Aircraft types in service as of 2024

At December 2024 the fleet stood at 492 aircraft: 338 narrow-body, 130 wide-body passenger aircraft and 24 freighters, according to the airline's investor fact sheet. Narrow-bodies make up about 70% of the fleet. Trade press reporting of the 2025 results put the fleet at 516 aircraft at the end of 2025. The wide-body fleet combines A330s, 777-300ERs, A350-900s and 787-9s.

Network and hubs

Turkish Airlines runs a single-hub network from Istanbul Airport. In 2025 it reported 356 destinations in 132 countries, after 352 destinations in 131 countries in 2024. Its investor fact sheet notes that 289 destinations in 122 countries were actively operated at the time of the 2024 figures.

The network is strongest in transfer traffic: Istanbul sits within a few hours' flying time of much of Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and North and East Africa, so many routes are fed by connections rather than local demand. In 2025 the airline carried 92.6 million passengers.

Turkish Airlines: frequently asked questions

What are Turkish Airlines' IATA and ICAO codes?

Turkish Airlines uses the IATA designator TK and the ICAO code THY. Its radio callsign is TURKISH. The IATA code appears on tickets and booking screens, while the ICAO code is used in air traffic control and flight planning. Its three-digit airline ticketing prefix in the IATA register is 235.

Where is the Turkish Airlines hub?

The main hub is Istanbul Airport (IST), which replaced Atatürk Airport as the airline's base. Nearly all long-haul and international transfer flights connect there. The group's low-cost brand AJet focuses on point-to-point flying, so agents should check which brand operates a given route.

Is Turkish Airlines in Star Alliance?

Yes. Turkish Airlines joined Star Alliance in 2008. Its frequent flyer programme, Miles&Smiles, lets members earn and spend miles on Star Alliance partners, and eligible elite members receive alliance status benefits such as lounge access on connecting itineraries.

Does Turkish Airlines have NDC for travel agents?

Yes. TKCONNECT is the airline's NDC platform, launched on 1 October 2024. Agencies can connect through direct NDC APIs, through certified aggregators, or through the TKCONNECT web portal. It offers NDC-only promotional fares and ancillaries such as extra baggage and seat selection.

Is there a surcharge on Turkish Airlines GDS bookings?

Yes. The Distribution Cost Recovery Charge applies to original tickets issued through GDS EDIFACT connections. From 1 May 2026 it is USD 30 per ticket, collected in YQ. Tickets issued through TKCONNECT or the airline's direct channels do not carry it, and some markets and passenger types are exempt.

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Sources

Profile updated 4 November 2026 by the ReservationHub team. Airline details change: confirm schedules, fares and policies with the airline before booking. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.