The number of passengers carried by Turkish Airlines reached 83.4 million in 2024, a figure which represents an increase of 2.1% year-on-year, according to a statement issued by the national carrier of Turkey on January 8, 2024. The total included 31.7 million international passengers, up 6.4% over 2023, a rise it largely credits to a major international expansion push throughout 2024.
Although the airline boosted its passenger numbers overall, the carrier’s network load factor dropped by 0.4 percentage points to 82.2% over the figure reported for 2023. This figure breaks down as 81.8% for international flights and 85.8% for domestic flights. The company also carried two million tons of cargo and mail, up by 20.6% on a year-on-year basis.
Specifically, in December 2024, the airline transported 6.4 million passengers across its network, an increase of 5.3% over the same month in 2023. By the nd of 2024, the carrier operated a fleet of 492 aircraft made predominantly of both Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The airline has a further 342 aircraft on order.
In December 2024, Turkish Airlines became an official Guinness World Records title champion after being recognized as the carrier that flies to most countries around the globe. While it had been widely known that the Istanbul-based carrier had held this record unofficially since 2012, on December 22, 2024, at a ceremony held at Santago De Chile (SCL), the airline’s newest international destination, was recognized by the Guinness World Records organization.
Throughout 2024, Turkish Airlines saw unprecedented growth, announcing new routes and increasing the size of its already expansive fleet. The carrier began flights to Melbourne and Sydney in Australia during the year, restored flights to Afghanistan after a three-year hiatus, and began flights to Denver and Dallas-Fort Worth. Upon the launch of flights to Melbourne in September 2024, the city became the airline’s 346th overall destination, and Australia its 130th country served. The airline is currently the only European carrier that operates flights to and from Melbourne and Sydney
On the aircraft side, the airline signed leases for ten Boeing 737 MAX 8s, 21 Airbus A321neos in 2024, and also ordered four new Boeing 777Fs direct from the US manufacturer.