Who Founded Turkish Airlines?

Turkish Airlines, abbreviated as THY (Turkish Airlines), which is one of the largest airline companies in Turkey and Europe, was established on May 20, 1933, under the Ministry of National Defense with the name “State Airlines General Directorate” (Devlet Hava Yolları Umum Müdürlüğü). During its establishment process, it was implemented in line with the vision of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding leader of the Republic of Turkey. In its initial establishment, the fleet consisted of only 5 aircraft.

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THY, one of the largest companies in Turkey, is a company that achieved great things in a short time with the flight services it offers to all regions of the world, such as Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, North Africa, South Africa, North and South America. Today, flying to more than 120 countries, Turkish Airlines is in a position as one of the airline companies with the widest flight network in the world. According to current data, it has become one of the most important actors in the global aviation sector with its modern fleet consisting of hundreds of aircraft and its capacity to carry millions of passengers every year.

Winning the title of Europe’s best airline company according to the Skytrax 2013 awards, Turkish Airlines became an important brand in the international aviation sector by repeating this success in the following years. Additionally, being a member of Star Alliance, THY is in cooperation with many airlines on a global scale.

One of the important milestones in the development process of Turkish Airlines is its first international flight carried out in 1947 (Ankara–Istanbul–Athens). In 1955, it strengthened its corporate identity by taking its current name, “Turkish Airlines.” The company, which entered a rapid growth process as of the 2000s, further expanded its global network with its Star Alliance membership in 2008. Today, it continues its operations primarily based at Istanbul Airport.

Furthermore, if you ask who the owner of Turkish Airlines is or who THY belongs to, this structure is based on a mixed partnership system. A significant portion of the company’s shares has been offered to the public. In the current structure, approximately 49% of the shares belong to the Turkey Wealth Fund; the remaining shares consist of free-floating shares traded on the stock exchange. Nevertheless, public influence in the company’s management continues.

Turkish Airlines operates not only in the field of passenger transportation but also in cargo and low-cost airline services. While becoming an important player in the global logistics field with the Turkish Cargo brand, it offers more affordable flight options with the AnadoluJet brand.

Taking important steps in terms of global brand awareness, Turkish Airlines has increased its worldwide recognition with sponsorship agreements and advertising campaigns made with international sports organizations and clubs. Competing with its rivals in Europe and throughout the world, THY is among the leading airline companies in the sector in terms of both service quality and flight network.

The well-known slogan of Turkish Airlines is “Widen Your World.”