Last Updated: August 24, 2023
Why Is Turkish Airlines So Cheap? But Still Safe
Confused about why Turkish Airlines is so cheap?
They are a modern airline with great service with hundreds of destinations around the world. Yet, they still offer some of the cheapest and most competitive airfares around.
Find out what Turkish Airlines is cheaper than most…
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History and Background of Turkish Airlines
Founded in 1933, Turkish Airlines (or Türk Hava Yolları if you want to get all authentic) has grown significantly over the decades. It has now become one of the world’s leading carriers traveling all over the world.
It now serves more countries than any other airline. Currently, they claim to serve 269 unique destinations in 118 countries.
But, its meteoric rise in the aviation sector isn’t merely because of its pricing. Its strategic location, ambitious plans, and Turkey’s investments in the industry have obviously played a role too.
Strategic Geographic Location
Turkish Airlines destinations
Turkish Airline’s main hub is in Istanbul at the crossroads of both Europe and Asia. This geographic advantage allows Turkish Airlines to easily and efficiently connect both continents.
This also makes Istanbul a significant hub for international travelers. When airlines have such a strategic location, they can offer more direct routes, reduce fuel costs, and serve a broader range of customers.
All these factors can result in cost savings, which can then be passed on to you, the consumer.
If we look at an example I experienced recently – getting from Europe to Georgia, which is just North of Turkey. Few airlines serve this destination, but there are lots of great connections via Istanbul.
Their prices are only a few dollars above the cheap airline – Pegasus. Sure, Turkish are not “the cheapest” in many situations, but they are the next cheapest. And on top of that, they have great service and modern planes!
Turkish Airlines – Frankfurt to Tiblisi
Fuel Efficiency and Modern Fleet
A lesser-known fact about Turkish Airlines is their commitment to maintaining a modern and fuel-efficient fleet. Newer aircraft tend to be more fuel-efficient, which can be a significant cost saving for any airline, and Turkish Airlines appreciates this fact.
When fuel prices rise, having a modern fleet can mean significant savings, which can then contribute to low ticket prices – passed on to you!
Turkish Airlines has even invested just this year in 600 new planes from both Boeing and Airbus, which shows that they are not stopping this modernization process any time soon.
Efficient Operational Strategies
Turkish Airlines has learned a thing or two about efficient operations over the years. They seem to have quick turnaround times and know how to maximize seat occupancy.
They were noted in a Forbes article in 2020 as having a noteworthy 71% load factor (a measure of how much seating is used).
The airline ensures that they can save costs without compromising the quality of service. One other factor that likely contributes to this is the low cost of living and labor in a country like Turkey.
It is relatively modern, as a recent visit of mine confirmed, yet the prices are very low. When comparing Germany, which is far from the most expensive in Europe. to Turkey, they are approximately twice as expensive.
This operational efficiency often translates to cheaper tickets for us travelers. Yay!
Economic Factors and State Support
We cannot say with certainty that Turkish Airlines has received government aid, outside of help during the pandemic.
However, Erdogan is on a very accelerated path to modernizing Turkey and this has included the Instanbul Airport which was started in 2018. The project will take 10 years and more than double the capacity of the airport from 90 million to 200 million passengers per year.
Obviously, such a massive expansion helps Turkish Airlines and gives them an even bigger advantage in terms of cost. This could certainly mean lower price tickets.
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
