TURKISH AIRLINES: DIPLOMACY, TRADE, AND CONNECTIVITY POWER IN AFRICAN SKIE

We discussed Turkish Airlines and Turkish Cargo’s Africa strategies, which strengthen Türkiye’s role as a global bridge with its extensive flight network and cargo corridors stretching from Africa to Asia, with Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat.

WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE AFRICA OUTREACH POLICY, HOW DO YOU ASSESS TURKISH AIRLINES’ GROWTH STRATEGY ON THE CONTINENT? HOW HAVE THE STEPS TAKEN SINCE 2003 TRANSFORMED TÜRKIYE AFRICA RELATIONS IN ECONOMIC AND DIPLOMATIC TERMS?

Turkish Airlines began its flights to Africa in 1956 with the Istanbul–Cairo route. While its flight network included 6 Afri can destinations in 2003, it added 12 new destinations to its network by 2011, bringing the total number of destinations to 18. Since 2011, it has accelerated route launches by adding B737-900ER aircraft with extra fuel tanks to its fleet, adding 13 new African destinations to its network in 2012 alone, bringing the total number of destinations on the continent to 33. Between 2013 and 2019, it launched flights to a total of 26 new destinations, significantly expanding its service offering by increasing the number of flights to many destinations in the region.

Even during the pandemic, Turkish Airlines continued to maintain its presence in Africa through cargo transportation and humanitarian aid flights. During this period, it actively supported the region’s countries in their fight against the global pandemic by transporting medical supplies and food aid to Africa. Turkish Airlines, which continues to implement its growth strategies in Africa, currently operates 65 flight destinations in 41 countries across the African continent. The strengthening of Türkiye’s transportation infrastructure, coupled with increased trade and investment flows, has enhanced economic interaction with Africa. Türkiye’s trade volume with Africa has increased approximately sixfold be tween 2003 and 2024. The strengthening of air connections has facilitated lasting contacts between business people, investors, educational institutions, and civil society organi zations; Türkiye’s diplomatic visibility and political dialogue channels in the region have expanded.

TODAY, TURKISH AIRLINES OPERATES FLIGHTS TO MORE THAN 60 DESTINATIONS IN AFRICA. WHAT CRITERIA TOOK PRECEDENCE IN ESTABLISHING THIS EXTENSIVE NETWORK: ECONOMIC POTENTIAL, DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS, OR TOURISM? WHICH REGIONS ARE PRIORITIZED IN NEW ROUTE PLANNING?

Turkish Airlines’ network expansion in Africa has been based on key criteria such as passenger market potential, economic potential, trade and investment opportunities, diplomatic con tacts, tourism demand, and cargo transportation. Today, Turkish Airlines flies to more than 60 destinations in Africa, making it the airline with the most extensive network on the continent. In new route planning, trade centers in West and Central Africa and emerging tourism destinations in Southern and Eastern Africa are prioritized based on market developments.

TURKISH AIRLINES IS NOT JUST AN AIRLINE, BUT ALSO SERVES AS A BRIDGE FOR TRADE, CULTURE, AND DIPLOMACY. IN THIS CONTEXT, HOW DO YOU ASSESS THE ROLE OF TURKISH AIRLINES’ PRESENCE IN AFRICA IN TERMS OF STRENGTHENING TÜRKIYE’S SOFT POWER?

Turkish Airlines operates flights to over 60 destinations in Africa, making it the airline with the widest continental network outside of Europe. This network represents not only passenger and cargo transportation but also a strategic infrastructure that enhances Türkiye’s diplomatic visibility. Through its reg ular passenger flights, Turkish Airlines connects the African market to the world, providing ease of access and mobility; its cargo flights also deliver high-value-added products to global markets.

Turkish Airlines’ extensive flight network has strengthened the “accessibility” dimension of diplomacy. The increase in the number of Turkish embassies in Africa from 12 in 2003 to 44 as of 2024 shows a parallel development. Thus, Turkish Airlines has gone beyond being merely a carrier and has become a strategic tool that reinforces Türkiye’s soft power in Africa and supports its diplomatic presence.

TURKISH AIRLINES’ FLIGHTS TO AFRICA ARE NOT JUST A TRANSPORTATION ROUTE, BUT ALSO A NETWORK THAT STRENGTHENS HUMAN AND CULTURAL INTERACTION. IN THIS CONTEXT, HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE PERCEPTION OF “BEING A TURKISH BRAND IN AFRICA” AND HOW DO YOU STRENGTHEN YOUR INTERACTION WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES?

Africa holds a strategic place in Turkish Airlines’ global vision. We define our presence on the continent not only by our flight destinations but also by the quality of our relationships. Our approach here is very clear: long-term commitment, mutual benefit, and respect for social values. We do not just provide access to Africa; we position ourselves as a reliable brand that contributes to the social and economic life of the continent and works together with local partners.

As a brand, our promotional strategy in the region is measured and trust-focused. We adopt an approach that understands local dynamics in each country and is sensitive to culture, language, and social realities. Instead of a one-size-fits-all message, we act with consideration for the unique structure of each society; we feature real people and real stories in our representations.

Our growing network has enabled us to better understand the region and its communities. Through the routes we opened between 2003 and 2025, we have made a significant con tribution to the development of trade, tourism, and cultural relations between Türkiye and Africa. The fundamental vision behind this extensive network is to establish a sustainable perception of the Turkish brand in Africa and to build a mu tually beneficial relationship with local communities.

Social contribution is part of our brand’s character. In this context, we provide computer classrooms to schools in many countries, offering young people digital access and skills development opportunities. We support access to clean water by drilling wells in regions affected by severe drought and ensure the long-term use of these resources in collaboration with local communities.

For us, Africa is not just a geography limited to today; it is positioned as a strategic center where the shared potential for the future is shaped. As Turkish Airlines, we do not see being strong on this continent as merely a matter of flight network coverage; we are based on building trust, creating long-term value, and mutual development. As Türkiye’s flag carrier, we maintain our presence and image in Africa from a business partner perspective, based on respect and continuity.

IN RECENT YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A NOTICEABLE INCREASE IN PASSENGER TRAFFIC FROM AFRICA TO TÜRKIYE. HOW DO YOU ASSESS THE IMPACT OF THIS DEMAND ON AREAS SUCH AS TRADE, TOURISM, AND EDUCATION? SIMILARLY, HOW DO YOU VIEW THE DIRECTION OF INTEREST FROM TÜRKIYE TOWARDS AFRICA?

Passenger traffic from Africa to Türkiye has increased more than 15-fold over the past decade. In 2024, the number of passengers from the African region reached 4.2 million, a 7 percent increase over the previous year. As a result, Turkish Airlines has become one of the airlines carrying the most passengers from Africa.

This increase has enabled Istanbul to become a natural hub for Africa, thanks to Turkish Airlines’ continuous expansion of its flight network across the continent. Turkish Airlines’ strategy in the region supports not only passenger transportation but also regional integration, trade, and tourism.

Turkish Airlines maintains commercial partnerships with 15 different carriers, including Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, Royal Air Maroc, and Air Algérie. This enables the development of alternative routes and connection options within Africa, pro viding access to destinations that currently lack direct flights.

Collaborations with African carriers in areas such as technical maintenance and repair, training, catering, operations, and cargo also contribute to the development of aviation in the region. This has created a sustainable collaboration model based not only on transportation but also on the sharing of knowledge and experience.

As a result, Türkiye is facilitating mutual contact between busi nesspeople by developing transportation links with African countries; along with increasing passenger traffic, commercial relations, tourism activity, and educational ties are growing stronger every year. In this context, the number of Africans visiting Türkiye has also increased exponentially over the years, deepening mutual interaction between the two people.

FAST, SAFE, AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN INCREASING THE VOLUME OF TRADE BETWEEN TÜRKIYE AND AFRICA. IN THIS CONTEXT, WHAT STRATEGIES IS TURKISH CARGO PURSUING IN AFRICA, AND WHAT PRIORITIES IS IT FOCUSING ON?

Using the advantage of Turkish Airlines’ extensive flight network, Turkish Cargo is aggressively expanding its route network across Africa. This strategy directly contributes to increased trade volume by strengthening physical connec tions. It is transforming Istanbul into a central global logistics hub, connecting not only Türkiye but also Europe, Asia, and the Middle East with high-frequency flights.

-It continuously increases the number of destinations and flights in Africa, providing greater market access and shorter delivery times.
-It strengthens its capacity and expertise in specialized cargo transportation to meet the specific needs of various African countries.
-Positioned as part of Türkiye’s broader Africa strategy, which integrates logistics with trade, construction, and investment policies; making air cargo services a natural extension of economic partnership.

HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THE MOMENTUM GAINED BY TURKISH CARGO’S ACTIVITIES IN AFRICA AFTER 2003? WHICH COUNTRIES OR REGIONS WERE AMONG THE PRIORITY TARGETS DURING THIS PERIOD?

Turkish Airlines has expanded its Africa flight network, which was very limited in 2003, to over 60 destinations in approxi mately 40 countries today. With the increase in destinations, frequencies, and dedicated cargo aircraft, Istanbul has be come a key global hub connecting Africa to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Featured countries/regions:
-Nigeria
-South Africa
-Kenya
-Ghana
-Senegal
-Egypt
-Morocco

WHAT CONCRETE ADVANTAGES DO YOUR AFRICAN FLIGHT DESTINATIONS AND THE CARGO CORRIDORS YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED OFFER EXPORTERS? WHICH SECTORS STAND OUT, PARTICULARLY IN FOOD, TEXTILES, AND TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS, AND WHY?

Extensive Global Access:

This global network, which connects to over 130 countries, enables African exporters to access European, Middle Eastern, Asian, and American markets easily and competitively.

Efficient Transit and Operational Processes:

Located at Istanbul Airport, SMARTIST offers fast transfer and handling capabilities with its state-of-the-art facilities for temperature-controlled, high-value, or time-critical cargo. Sector-Specific Solutions: Turkish Cargo offers specialized logistics solutions tailored to sector-specific needs through services such as TK Fresh, TK Pharma, and TK Valuable.

Food and Agricultural Products:

Exporters of perishable goods, fruits, vegetables, seafood, and flowers benefit from Turkish Cargo’s robust cold chain infrastructure, ensuring product freshness and quality from Africa to global markets.

Textiles and Ready-to-Wear:

Textile manufacturers, particularly in North and East Africa, support the fast fashion supply chain by connecting to Türkiye and Europe with frequent and reliable flights.

Technology and Electronics:

The growing technology and telecommunications sectors in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa rely on Turkish Cargo’s reliable solutions for the safe and timely transport of sensitive equipment and electronic products. Turkish Cargo’s extensive network in Africa enables sustain able trade growth in key sectors such as food, textiles, and technology by supporting exporters with connectivity, speed, and sector-specific logistics solutions.

HOW IS TURKISH CARGO SHAPING ITS LOCAL PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION STRATEGY IN AFRICA?

Turkish Cargo’s cooperation and partnership strategy in Africa is based on mutual growth, local participation, and operational reliability. The global carrier believes that sustainable success on the continent can only be achieved through strong coop eration with local stakeholders. These stakeholders include logistics companies, airport authorities, and public institutions. Turkish Cargo collaborates with reliable local cargo agents and ground service providers to ensure efficient operations and high service standards at every destination. It also sup ports training and knowledge-sharing programs to enhance the capacity of the local workforce in handling special cargo types such as pharmaceuticals and perishable goods.

Turkish Cargo aims to develop cargo handling infrastructure, increase cold chain storage capacity, and streamline customs processes by working closely with airport authorities in major hubs such as Lagos, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Johannesburg, and Dakar. Examples of this include establishing advanced ground service systems in West Africa, cold storage part nerships for perishable product exports in East Africa, and implementing digital tracking solutions with local logistics providers.

Thanks to these initiatives, Turkish Cargo is not only increasing its operational efficiency but also contributing to local eco nomic development and facilitating trade, thereby strength ening its role as a strategic logistics partner for Africa.

ARE NEW ROUTE LAUNCHES, CAPACITY INCREASES, OR REGIONAL HUB PLANS IN AFRICA ON TURKISH CARGO’S AGENDA FOR THE COMING PERIOD? HOW DO THESE PLANS AIM TO STRENGTHEN TÜRKIYE-AFRICA TRADE?

Turkish Cargo continues to view Africa as one of the corner stones of its global growth strategy. In this regard, there are ongoing plans to expand its flight network across the conti nent, increase capacity, and strengthen regional connectivity. The carrier is constantly evaluating opportunities to open new destinations and increase flight frequencies, particularly in high-demand markets such as West and Central Africa. This enhances service reliability and transfer efficiency.

Turkish Cargo aims to establish regional logistics hubs in strategically located cities such as Lagos, Nairobi, and Jo hannesburg, enabling faster consolidation and distribution of cargo within Africa. With the addition of new-generation A330 and B777 cargo aircraft to its fleet, Turkish Cargo plans to increase its cargo capacity and further streamline its connec tions through its state-of-the-art SMARTIST hub in Istanbul. These expansion plans aim to strengthen bilateral trade between Türkiye and Africa, provide African exporters with easier access to European, Asian, and American markets, and support an increase in Türkiye’s exports of industrial products, machinery, and textiles to the continent.