Turkish Airlines Reveals Plans For $2.3B Cargo, Catering Facility

Turkish freighter
Credit: Rob Finlayson

Turkish Airlines announced Jan. 2 an investment of over $2.3 billion to construct what it says will be the world's largest cargo terminal and inflight catering facility.

The national carrier, which claims to transport around 2 million tons of air cargo annually, said the investment will generate approximately 26,000 new positions once the facilities are completed.

In a statement shared on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, the airline highlighted the project as a symbol of national growth, writing, “Turkiye is growing, Turkish Airlines is soaring.”

The location of the new facilities has not yet been officially disclosed, though Istanbul is the most likely site. The city hosts two of the country’s primary aviation hubs: Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side, which handles most major international traffic, and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) on the Asian side, which primarily serves low-cost carriers.

Turkish Airlines provides services to more than 350 destinations across 134 countries.

Ella Nethersole

Ella Nethersole is Deputy Editor of Aviation Week Network publications Arabian Aerospace and African Aerospace.