Write Hatem Mohamed

84% Load Factor Turkish Airlines Hits Historic May Performance with Cargo Growth of 8.6%

Turkish Airlines Expands Capacity 2.5% in May, Fleet Reaches 542 Aircraft

Turkish Airlines Carries 7.9 Million Passengers in May 2026, Achieves Record Load Factor

Turkish Airlines announced passenger and cargo traffic results for May 2026. Available Seat Kilometers ASK rose 2.5% year-on-year to 23.2 billion. The airline carried 7.9 million passengers, while total load factor reached 84.0%, marking the highest May load factor in the company’s history.

Strong Performance on International and Domestic Routes

According to May 2026 traffic data, international load factor stood at 84.0%, while domestic load factor was 84.4%. ASK increased from 22.6 billion in May 2025 to 23.2 billion, reflecting expanded capacity and route optimization.

Cargo and Mail Volume Up 8.6%

Cargo and mail carried in May 2026 increased 8.6% compared to May 2025, reaching 203.1 thousand tons. The growth highlights strong demand for air freight services across Turkish Airlines’ global network.

36.4 Million Passengers in First Five Months of 2026

For the January-May 2026 period, total passengers grew 7.3% to 36.4 million versus the same period in 2025. Total load factor was 83.6%, with international load factor at 83.5% and domestic at 84.3%.

Capacity and Freight Continue to Expand

ASK for the first five months increased 6.5% to 112.1 billion from 105.3 billion in 2025. Cargo and mail volume rose 13.5% to 954.6 thousand tons, up from 840.7 thousand tons, underscoring the airline’s role in global logistics.

Fleet Reaches 542 Aircraft by End of May
By 31 May 2026, Turkish Airlines’ fleet totaled 542 aircraft. Traffic results are consolidated and include data for the main Turkish Airlines brand and its subsidiary AJet.