Turkish Airlines, a key Star Alliance partner operating extensive connectivity into South Africa and across the continent, recorded a net profit of USD 197 million (approx. R3.6 billion) in the second quarter of 2026, navigating geopolitical headwinds and rising fuel prices through dynamic capacity management.
Total revenues for the quarter surged by 20.5% year-on-year to USD 7.2 billion (approx. R131 billion). Cargo operations performed strongly, with Turkish Cargo posting a 58% revenue increase to nearly USD 1.3 billion (approx. R23.7 billion) as the carrier leveraged its strategic geographical hub to maintain vital global supply chains.
Supported by robust demand across key markets—including Africa, Europe, and Asia—the airline’s passenger load factor climbed 1.8 percentage points to 84.0%, marking the highest second-quarter load factor in Turkish Airlines’ history.
During the first half of the year, Turkish Airlines invested USD 3.1 billion (approx. R56.4 billion) into strategic priorities, expanding its global fleet by 14% year-on-year to 552 aircraft by the end of June 2026. Consolidated Total Assets reached USD 51 billion (approx. R928 billion), with group employment exceeding 101,000 personnel worldwide.
The airline achieved an EBITDAR margin of 12.6% in Q2, surpassing its guidance of 8%. Looking ahead to Q3, Turkish Airlines projects an EBITDAR margin between 20% and 25%, anticipated to buffer the impact of higher jet fuel prices resulting from regional tensions.
- African & Regional Demand Growth: Strong passenger demand on African, European, and Asian routes pushed Turkish Airlines’ passenger load factor to 84.0%—the highest second-quarter load factor in the airline’s history.
- Cargo Surge: Turkish Cargo saw revenues jump by 58% to nearly USD 1.3 billion (approx. R23.7 billion), underscoring robust trade routes connecting Africa with global markets.
- Star Alliance Synergy: As a key partner within Star Alliance, Turkish Airlines continues to reinforce regional passenger transit options via its Istanbul hub.
Prof. Murat Şeker, Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines, commented: “Despite the uncertainty caused by geopolitical developments in the Middle East and sharp increases in fuel prices, we have successfully managed this challenging period through our extensive flight network, diversified business model, and operational agility. At the same time, we continued to implement end-to-end efficiency initiatives while maintaining disciplined cost management. As Turkish Airlines, we will continue to bring continents, cultures, and people together—including our valued passengers across Africa—while keeping safety and customer satisfaction at the heart of our focus.”
