Turkish Airlines Achieves $2.2 Billion Core Operating Profit in 2025 Amid Global Challenges
Turkish Airlines has announced a robust financial performance for the year 2025, recording a core operating profit of $2.2 billion. This achievement comes despite facing significant geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and supply chain disruptions that have impacted the global aviation industry. The airline's ability to navigate these challenges has been highlighted as a key factor in its success.
Revenue Growth and Operational Highlights
Total revenue for Turkish Airlines increased by 6.3 percent year-on-year to $24.1 billion in 2025. This growth was primarily driven by strong performance in passenger operations, with notable increases in international and premium travel segments. The fourth quarter of 2025 saw revenue climb 12 percent compared to the same period in 2024, reaching $6.3 billion, while profit from core operations rose 23 percent to $534 million.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, and rent (EBITDAR) stood at $5.7 billion for the year, with an EBITDAR margin of 23.7 percent. This figure exceeds the midpoint of the company's long-term target range, demonstrating effective financial management.
Expansion and Investment Initiatives
In 2025, Turkish Airlines invested $6 billion as part of its expansion strategy, bringing total investments over the last five years to approximately $20 billion. The airline expanded its fleet by five percent year-on-year, reaching 516 aircraft by the end of 2025. Operationally, it transported 92.6 million passengers and handled 2.2 million tonnes of cargo, marking its highest operational performance in history.
Consolidated assets rose to $46.6 billion during the period under review, and total employment across its subsidiaries exceeded 101,000 workers. These figures underscore the airline's growth and its role as a major employer in the aviation sector.
Passenger and Cargo Performance
Passenger revenue grew by 7.4 percent, supported by strong international demand and increased premium travel. Although global trade slowdowns and tariff pressures reduced cargo unit yields, the airline offset this impact with a 16.6 percent rise in cargo volumes, generating $3.4 billion in cargo revenue.
Leadership Insights on Adaptability
Ahmet Bolat, Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines, emphasized that the financial success in 2025 reflects the carrier's adaptability to changing global conditions. "Despite an exceptionally challenging and unpredictable operating environment, the financial success we achieved in 2025 once again showed our ability to adapt to rapidly changing commercial and geopolitical conditions," Bolat stated.
He added that investments and strategic partnerships established during the year have strengthened the airline's global reach and supported its long-term development objectives. This strategic approach has been crucial in maintaining operational performance despite rising costs linked to global inflation and supply constraints affecting aircraft engines and deliveries.
Future Outlook and Sustainability Goals
The airline reported that strong operational performance toward the end of 2025 continued into the early months of 2026, with positive results in January and February. This supports expectations that the 2026 EBITDAR margin will remain within the long-term target range of 22 to 24 percent.
Turkish Airlines plans to continue expanding its global footprint while supporting sustainable growth in the aviation industry. The airline aims to maintain its position as the network carrier operating the most flights in Europe, leveraging its adaptability and strategic investments to navigate future challenges.
