Turkish Airlines reported strong traffic growth for January 2026, carrying 7.6 million passengers, supported by a 10% increase in passenger capacity measured in available seat kilometers (ASK) compared to the same period last year. The airline recorded an overall load factor of 84%, with international load factor at 83.7% and domestic load factor at 87.5%.
The number of international-to-international passengers rose 10.8%, increasing from 2.8 million in January 2025 to 3.1 million this year. Capacity also expanded significantly, with ASK reaching 23.7 billion compared to 21.5 billion in the previous year. Cargo and mail traffic showed robust growth, rising 18.8% year-on-year to 178.3 thousand tons, reflecting strengthening global freight demand. By the end of January 2026, the airline’s fleet size stood at 522 aircraft. The traffic figures include consolidated data from both the main Turkish Airlines brand and AJet operations.
The airline’s rising international connectivity and cargo growth are expected to benefit the Kolkata aviation market, particularly in long-haul transit traffic and high-value cargo movements. Travel operators in the Kolkata region anticipate stronger passenger demand on Europe-bound routes and improved cargo linkages, especially for pharmaceuticals, textiles, and perishable exports, as global capacity expansion continues.