AEconomyIndependent states
Turkish Airlines
The national airline, founded in 1933 — the airline that flies to more countries than any other.
Turkish Airlines was founded on 20 May 1933 as the State Airlines Administration with just five aircraft and grew over the decades from a small domestic carrier into a global airline.
Today it flies to more than 130 countries — more than any other airline. It has been a Star Alliance member since 2008, and its main base is Istanbul Airport.
Its success has been central to Istanbul becoming a transfer hub and to the growth of Turkish tourism, and it links Turkic capitals such as Baku, Tashkent, Almaty and Bishkek to the world.
Sources
Updated: October 2, 2026