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Turkish Airlines Unveils TRY 100 Billion Ground Infrastructure Build-Out in Istanbul

The program advances a vertically integrated push that supports a 2033 vision to elevate Türkiye’s aviation hub status.

Overview

  • The carrier announced the investment at a January 8 ceremony in Istanbul with Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu and Chairman Ahmet Bolat.
  • Phase 2 of the SmartIST cargo complex targets 4.5 million tonnes of annual capacity by 2028, alongside a new e-commerce handling facility under the Widect brand.
  • A new main catering plant is planned to serve more than 500,000 passengers per day, with completion targeted around 2027–2028.
  • Turkish Technic will add an engine maintenance center for Rolls‑Royce Trent XWB‑84, XWB‑97 and 7000 engines plus new hangars, lifting MRO capacity about 20% to service up to 12 aircraft at once.
  • Resilience and workforce projects include an Istanbul Data Center for continuity, Phase 1 of a Flight Training Center and a new Crew Terminal slated for 2026–2027, with media reporting the plan could generate 26,000 jobs in 2026.