Turkish Airlines Flight Training Academy (TAFA), Turkish Airlines’ pilot training division, has reached a new milestone by expanding its training fleet to 50 aircraft. The academy’s latest addition, a Diamond Aircraft, marks a significant step in its ongoing growth strategy.

In 2025, TAFA also broadened its training operations by launching a new flight training base at Adana Şakirpaşa Airport, making it the academy’s fifth training center alongside its existing facilities in Aydın, Uşak, Selçuk, and Bodrum-Milas. This expansion follows the Turkish government’s decision to keep Adana Şakirpaşa Airport operational alongside the newly developed Çukurova International Airport.

TAFA has initially deployed four training aircraft to Adana, with plans to increase the number to 18 as airport capacity allows. This new base will enhance the academy’s ability to train future pilots, addressing the growing demand for skilled aviators in the aviation industry.

The academy currently operates 50 aircraft but has ambitious growth plans. By Q1 2027, TAFA aims to expand its fleet to 107 aircraft, with 47 new additions expected by the end of 2025. Over the past five years, TAFA has played a crucial role in pilot training, graduating more than 900 pilots and accumulating 220,000 flight hours as of December 2024.

This latest expansion reflects Turkish Airlines’ commitment to strengthening its pilot training infrastructure and ensuring a steady pipeline of highly trained aviators for its future operations.

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