Türkiye: Civil aviation fleet expands to 2,300 aircraft including balloons

Turkey

Airlines, air taxi operators and general aviation all increased their fleets in the first half of 2026, while hot air balloons continued to play a significant role in tourism

Image Credit: © AI generated illustration

Türkiye’s civil aviation sector continued to expand in the first half of 2026, with the combined fleet of aircraft, helicopters and gliders reaching 1,772 by the end of June. When hot air balloons are included, the total rises to 2,300 aircraft, according to figures from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM).

The expansion comes as Türkiye continues to increase aviation capacity around major hubs including Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya. The country now has 60 airports and an annual passenger capacity of around 400 million, while the number of daily flights has surpassed 6,800.

Airline fleets show strong growth

Commercial airlines account for the largest part of the Turkish aviation fleet. Turkish Airlines, AJet and Pegasus together operated 846 aircraft by the end of June 2026, up from 751 in the middle of 2025.

This represents an increase of 95 aircraft within a year as carriers expand capacity to accommodate growing domestic and international demand.

The number of aircraft operated by air taxi companies also increased. Their combined fleet rose from 235 aircraft in the first half of 2025 to 259 by the end of June 2026. The category covers commercial air transport operators using registered aircraft with a maximum capacity of 19 seats.

General aviation reaches 632 aircraft

Growth was also recorded outside scheduled and other commercial airline operations. The number of aircraft registered to general aviation operators increased from 595 in the first half of 2025 to 632 a year later.

Ultralight aviation was the exception to the broader upward trend. The number of registered ultralight aircraft declined slightly from 36 to 35.

Across the categories excluding balloons, Türkiye’s civil aviation fleet reached 1,772 aircraft, helicopters and gliders.

Hot air balloon fleet grows to 528

Hot air balloons form a distinctive part of Türkiye’s aviation sector because of their importance to the country’s tourism industry. SHGM classifies balloons as aircraft, and their number increased from 499 at the end of June 2025 to 528 at the end of June 2026.

Balloon operations are particularly associated with major tourism destinations, adding an aviation segment whose economic significance extends beyond conventional passenger transport.

Including the 528 balloons, the total number of aircraft recorded by the Turkish civil aviation authorities reached 2,300 at the end of the first half of 2026, compared with 2,116 a year earlier.