Turkish Airlines has announced the results of passenger and cargo traffic in May. The airline achieved the highest first five-month load factor (LF) in its history with 80.7 percent. The national flag carrier has maintained its position on the global aviation agenda with the high LF performances it has reached, especially in recent periods.
The total number of passengers carried went up by 4 percent reaching 6.1 million passengers, and the load factor stood at 78.6 percent in May.
The total load factor improved by one point, with an increase of 3.6 percent in capacity (available seat kilometer), while the international LF increased by 1.7 points to reach 78 percent and the domestic load factor stood at 83 percent.
In May, N. America, Africa and Far East showed load factor growth of five points, three points and one point.
Turkish Airlines is the national flag carrier airline of Turkey. As of 2017, it operates scheduled services to 302 destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, making it the largest carrier in the world by number of destinations (excluding regional brands). It serves more destinations non-stop from a single airport than any other airline in Europe. The carrier flies to 120 countries, more than any other airline. With an operational fleet of 15 cargo aircraft, the airline’s cargo division serves 73 destinations.
The airline’s corporate headquarters are at the Turkish Airlines General Management Building on the grounds of Atatürk Airport in Yeşilköy, Bakırköy, Istanbul. Istanbul Atatürk Airport is the airline’s main base, and there are secondary hubs at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport and Ankara Esenboğa International Airport. Turkish Airlines has been a member of the Star Alliance network since 1 April 2008.
In the wake of the 2016 Turkish coup d’état attempt, the Federal Aviation Authority temporarily banned flights between Turkey and the United States. This posed a particular problem for Turkish Airlines as a key component of the airline’s strategy was to deliver one-stop journeys between the USA and hard-to-reach destinations in Africa, the Middle East, and India. This ban was lifted on 18 July, and Turkish Airlines resumed flights to the U.S. on 19 July.
