Turkish Airlines to Add Premium Economy in 2028, Push Fleet Growth, Eye NonStop Australia Flights

‍FARNBOROUGH – On the first day of the 2026 Farnborough Airshow, Airways sat down with Prof. Murat Şeker, chairman of Turkish Airlines (TK), for an interview covering the carrier's fleet plans, network strategy, and the operating pressures it has faced in 2026.

Şeker served as Turkish Airlines' chief financial officer from 2013 to 2016 and was appointed to the board and executive committee in 2021. He became chairman of the board and executive committee on April 10, 2026.

Fleet and Network

Turkish Airlines has taken delivery of 25 aircraft during the first five months of 2026 and expects to add 11 more before year‑end. While the bulk of these arrivals are narrowbodies, ongoing industrial supply‑chain constraints continue to slow wide‑body deliveries. Even so, the airline’s long‑term fleet plan remains ambitious: it anticipates receiving 40 aircraft in 2027, split between 25 owned and 15 leased units. Altogether, Turkish Airlines aims to induct as many as 100 new aircraft before the decade closes.

These targets come despite significant delays across the backlog. Chairman Murat Şeker acknowledged that the carrier is currently facing a cumulative 300 months of delivery slippage, roughly six to nine months per aircraft, affecting an estimated 33 to 50 units. Still, he emphasized that the situation is gradually improving, with a noticeable easing expected from 2027 onward. Not all new arrivals will translate into net fleet growth, however, as older‑generation narrowbodies are scheduled for retirement to maintain efficiency and modernize the fleet.

As the fleet evolves, Turkish Airlines is sharpening its network strategy to match demand. Şeker highlighted Asia and South America as the airline’s fastest‑growing regions. In Southeast Asia, the carrier has reinforced its presence by launching full‑scale operations in Phnom Penh (PNH) and boosting Bangkok (BKK) frequencies to more than 20 weekly flights. In South America, Turkish Airlines has upgraded its Santiago (SCL) service to a daily Airbus A350‑900 and secured rights to begin flights to Lima (LIM) via Caracas (CCS) by 2027. To support these high‑demand markets, the airline has reallocated aircraft capacity, including pausing seasonal routes such as Havana (HAV).

Growth momentum is also visible in China, where Turkish Airlines is preparing to transition its core mainland routes—Shanghai (PVG), Beijing (PEK), and Guangzhou (CAN)—to double‑daily service. This expansion follows a breakthrough in bilateral air transport negotiations between Türkiye and China, which increased the weekly passenger flight cap from 21 to 49. Meanwhile, in the United States, the airline is evaluating Newark (EWR) and secondary markets such as Minneapolis (MSP) and Orlando (MCO) for future service.

After adding 35 new destinations over the past five years, Şeker signaled a shift toward a more disciplined expansion philosophy. Rather than pursuing rapid growth for its own sake, Turkish Airlines now aims to consolidate its gains, deepen its presence in high‑performing markets, and ensure that future network additions align with long‑term strategic value. In his words, “We are not going to be too aggressive with our network,” reflecting a pivot from acceleration to intentional, sustainable growth.

The engine selection for Turkish Airlines' coming Airbus A320neo family backlog remains deadlocked due to stalled maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) negotiations. The primary roadblock centers on the carrier's demand for its internal technical division to be granted "Premier MRO" status by CFM International, a direct entry level that would yield full access to advanced repair technologies. While there is no formal, public US government veto explicitly blocking this specific airline deal, the threat of a regulatory, geopolitical, and export control veto by the United States heavily dictates why this tech access might not be possible right now.

This unresolved friction with CFM has simultaneously frozen the airline's tentative parallel order for up to 150 Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft. Compounding the delay, the carrier is highly reluctant to bypass CFM and rely on Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan (GTF), as legacy durability defects continue to ground between 35 and 50 narrowbodies and a 200-day maintenance backlog.

Premium Economy

As previously reported by Skift in June, Turkish Airlines is preparing to introduce a premium economy cabin, as soon as 2028. The first aircraft to receive the new cabin will be its Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, marking a return to the mid-tier cabin class more than a decade after the airline abandoned its former “Comfort Class” product in 2013.

While the carrier has aggressively promoted its newly unveiled, in-house designed "Crystal Business Class Suite", they are keeping details regarding the premium economy hardware strictly under wraps as development progresses. The airline aims to allocate 8% to 9% of its current total economy-class capacity to premium economy.

Australian Ambitions

Turkish Airlines plans to connect its Istanbul hub to Australia non-stop using the Airbus A350-1000ULR, deploying a dedicated sub-fleet of six aircraft, out of 15 of the type ordered as part of a landmark deal finalized in December 2023 for 220 Airbus aircraft.

Currently, the carrier serves Melbourne (MEL) and Sydney (SYD). Because these routes exceed the range of their current aircraft fleet, both services operate with a single midway stopover in Singapore (SIN) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL). Turkish Airlines plans to debut direct service to Sydney, followed closely by Melbourne in 2028. This upgrade will reduce travel times down to a seamless 17-to-19-hour journey, up to four hours longer than Qantas' forthcoming Project Sunrise flights connecting Sydney to London Heathrow (LHR) and New York (JFK) non-stop. Şeker foresees potential demand for non-stop service to as many as three Australian cities, potentially including Brisbane (BNE) and Perth (PER).

Geopolitical Instability, Fuel Costs

Before the Iran war escalated, Turkish Airlines devoted roughly 6% of its total available seat‑kilometers (ASK) to 26 destinations that later became directly affected by the conflict. As geopolitical conditions deteriorated, the carrier initiated a broad network reshuffle: 21 destinations across 10 countries were suspended, and these aircraft were redeployed toward Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Far East, and parts of Europe, where demand remained robust.

Even after some gradual resumptions, Turkish Airlines’ footprint in the conflict‑affected region remains about 40% smaller than it was in early 2026, reflecting both operational risk and weakened commercial viability. Yet, overall ASK has held steady. The airline compensated for lost Middle Eastern capacity by leaning into East–West transfer traffic, a segment that continued to grow and readily absorbed the reallocated aircraft.

Fuel costs have compounded the pressure. Jet fuel typically represents around 30% of Turkish Airlines’ total cost base, and the Iran conflict pushed Brent crude far above the carrier’s initial assumptions for 2026. Executives now expect the annual fuel bill to rise by as much as US$3.5 billion, even with 40% hedging coverage and fuel surcharges that recoup roughly half of the additional expense.

Despite this, the airline has avoided passing the full burden onto passengers. Chairman Murat Şeker described fuel as a “major pressure factor,” but noted that higher passenger yields and a booming cargo business, supported by Istanbul’s role as a major East–West hub even amid regional airspace disruptions. Altogether, these have helped offset the spike in operating costs. Cargo has become a natural hedge, especially as the near‑closure of the Strait of Hormuz diverted more freight to air transport.

The combined effect is a network that is leaner in politically sensitive markets but still expanding where demand is strongest, supported by strategic cost controls, postponed non‑essential investments, and renegotiated supplier contracts. Turkish Airlines’ long‑term growth trajectory remains intact, even as the airline navigates one of the most volatile fuel and geopolitical environments in its recent history.

Outlook

Taken together, Turkish Airlines enters the second half of the decade with a rare combination of pressure and momentum. Supply‑chain delays, geopolitical shocks, and fuel volatility have forced the carrier into difficult operational choices, yet its long‑term posture remains unmistakably expansionary. With a modernizing fleet, a disciplined but opportunity‑driven network strategy, and new products such as premium economy and the A350‑1000ULR shaping its future long‑haul identity, Turkish Airlines is positioning itself to emerge stronger from these turbulent times.

Şeker’s message is clear: the airline is building a platform designed to compete at the highest tier of global aviation, capable of connecting continents with greater efficiency and product sophistication. If the carrier delivers on its fleet ambitions, navigates its engine‑selection impasse, and successfully launches non‑stop Australia flights, Turkish Airlines will enter 2028 as one of the industry’s most strategically consequential players.