Turkish Airlines targets full GCC service by October

• Wants full service by peak travel season
• Big challenge absorbing jet fuel costs
• Plans for 850 aircraft by 2033

Turkish Airlines is reportedly pushing back the restart of flights to the Gulf by a “few more weeks” but intends to reach pre-Iran conflict levels in October ahead of the peak travel season.

The flag carrier was preparing to resume operations before the war flared up again in April, newly appointed chairman Murat Seker told the Financial Times.

Seker said the airline had “no serious issues” with jet fuel shortages, but that the bigger challenge was absorbing the costs.

Even though the carrier had a 40 percent hedge on jet fuel, it still had to buy the rest at double the pre-conflict price, the report said.

Turkish Airlines reallocated planes from the Middle East and the US to Asian and African routes where demand increased, Seker said.

The move enabled it to generate its budgeted revenue, but meeting the profit targets might be challenging, he added.

The company cut 21 routes from its network of 350 destinations and has held talks to acquire a few planes used by Spirit, the now-defunct US carrier.

It has also been talking with leasing companies to acquire up to 10 aircraft, but negotiations are on hold due to the conflict.

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Seker said Turkish Airlines expects to have up to 850 aircraft by 2033, putting it among the world’s three largest carriers by international seat capacity.

The airline carried 21 million passengers this month, compared to 19 million in the first three months of 2025.

Selahattin Bilgen, chief executive of IGA Istanbul Airport, said the effects of the war can’t be denied, but that this period has emphasised the perception of Turkey as a “safe harbour”.

Turkish airline’s shares, which trade on Boursa Istanbul, rose nearly 4 percent to TL298.25 on Monday at 1:46 GMT, up nearly 7 percent so far this year.