Turkish Airlines reported a net profit of $197 million in the second quarter of 2026, offsetting the impact of Middle East conflict-related disruptions through dynamic capacity management and selective growth strategies.

The airline’s total revenues rose 20.5% year-on-year to $7.2 billion during the quarter, supported by strong passenger demand and a significant increase in cargo performance.

Cargo revenues surged 58% compared with 2025, reaching nearly $1.3 billion, as Turkish Cargo leveraged its global network and strategic location amid pressure on air freight capacity.

Passenger demand remained strong, with the airline’s load factor increasing by 1.8 percentage points to 84%, marking the highest second-quarter level in Turkish Airlines’ history.

Growth was supported by demand from Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Despite higher costs linked to rising jet fuel prices and geopolitical uncertainties, Turkish Airlines exceeded its EBITDAR guidance, recording a margin of 12.6% and EBITDAR above $900 million for the quarter.

The carrier continued expanding its operations, increasing its fleet by 14% year-on-year to 552 aircraft by the end of June 2026.

The airline invested $3.1 billion during the first half of the year as part of its strategic growth plans.

Turkish Airlines’ consolidated total assets reached $51 billion, while total employment across the group exceeded 101,000 employees, including subsidiaries.

Looking ahead, the airline expects third-quarter EBITDAR margin to range between 20% and 25%, supported by continued passenger and cargo demand, which is expected to help offset the impact of higher fuel prices linked to renewed geopolitical tensions.

Turkish Airlines said its focus remains on sustainable growth, operational flexibility, and maintaining profitability despite challenges affecting the global aviation sector.

Murat Şeker, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, stated: “Despite the uncertainty caused by geopolitical developments in the Middle East and the sharp increase in fuel prices, we have successfully managed this challenging period, as we have in previous crises. This was made possible by our extensive flight network, diversified business model and agile operational capabilities. At the same time, we continued to implement end-to-end efficiency initiatives across all units of our Company while maintaining our disciplined cost management approach. As Turkish Airlines, we will continue to bring continents, cultures and people together through our products and services while keeping flight safety and customer satisfaction at the center of our focus. Capitalising on strength from our operational scale, sound financial structure and highly qualified human capital, we will continue to progress toward our Centennial targets amid challenging operating environment.” -TradeArabia News Service