Europe’s largest wide-body engine maintenance hub to open at Istanbul Airport

Turkey

Major Rolls-Royce partnership anchors a multi-billion-dollar investment programme spanning maintenance, cargo and catering

Istanbul Airport is set to become home to Europe’s largest wide-body aircraft engine maintenance centre. The project, developed in cooperation with Rolls-Royce, marks a significant expansion of Türkiye’s aviation infrastructure and was announced during a groundbreaking ceremony in Istanbul by Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu.

Engine maintenance as a new aviation pillar

The new facility is designed to handle up to 200 wide-body engine overhauls per year. Once fully operational, it is expected to generate around 1.5 billion US dollars in annual revenue for Turkish Airlines. A special agreement with Rolls-Royce will allow high-tech engine repairs to be carried out domestically, a move projected to create more than 2.5 billion US dollars in additional revenue over the next 22 years.

Eight mega projects with a global focus

The maintenance centre forms part of a wider investment programme comprising eight large-scale aviation projects, primarily concentrated at Istanbul Airport. The total investment volume exceeds 100 billion Turkish liras, equivalent to around 2.32 billion US dollars. Among the developments are the world’s largest in-flight catering facility and the next expansion phase of SmartIST, described as the world’s largest air cargo terminal.

Jobs and skills development

The engine maintenance project alone is expected to create around 1,000 new jobs, including more than 900 highly qualified technical positions. Beyond direct employment, the initiative aims to strengthen Türkiye’s skilled aviation workforce and offer young professionals hands-on experience at international standards.

Strategic location and rising traffic volumes

The investments reflect Türkiye’s ambition to leverage its geographical position between Europe, Asia and Africa. According to the transport ministry, the country continues to set new benchmarks in air traffic. On 4 January, a record 2,177 transit flights were recorded in a single day, surpassing the previous high set in August 2025. Total air traffic exceeded 2.5 million movements in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 9.3 percent.

SmartIST and cargo expansion

A central component of the programme is the continued expansion of SmartIST, the logistics hub of Turkish Cargo. Already the largest air cargo terminal in Europe and the third largest worldwide under one roof, the facility will double its usable area from 205,000 to 410,000 square metres. Cargo handling capacity is set to rise from 2.2 million to 4.5 million tonnes, positioning Turkish Cargo among the global leaders in air freight.

World-scale catering facility

The investment package also includes a new aircraft catering centre at Istanbul Airport. With a planned capacity to serve up to 500,000 meals per day, it is expected to become the largest facility of its kind worldwide, supporting Turkish Airlines’ expanding network and enhancing the onboard experience.

Broader economic impact

Beyond aviation, the projects are expected to have a substantial economic ripple effect. Within the scope of the overall 100-billion-lira investment programme, authorities anticipate the creation of around 26,000 new jobs in 2026 alone, further reinforcing Istanbul Airport’s role as a central hub in the global aviation ecosystem.