[8] As of June 2024[update], it operates scheduled services to 352 destinations (including cargo) in Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and the Americas.

[20] The airline's initial fleet consisted of two five-seat Curtiss Kingbirds, two four-seat Junkers F 13s and one ten-seat Tupolev ANT-9.

In 1957, British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) began supplying technical support after acquiring a 6.5 percent shareholding, which it held for about 20 years.

[25] A new government came to power in 1983 which recognized THY's importance as Turkey's gateway to the world, beginning the airline's makeover into a modern operation.

[26] The company posted losses in 1987 and 1988, largely due to high payments on its dozen new Airbus A310s, according to Air Transport World.

[23] The airline ordered five Airbus A340 aircraft with option for five more in 1990 to be able to fly to North American and East Asian destinations non-stop.

On 29 October 2000, THY withdrew from the Swissair-led Qualiflyer alliance to help attract a strategic investor for their privatization.

Turkish Daily News credited the airline's survival to entrepreneurial management, which was quick to get rid of loss-making routes at home and abroad.

[citation needed] In 2003, the war in Iraq prompted Turkish Airlines to close some routes in the Persian Gulf, while flights to Asia were suspended during the SARS epidemic.

It was planning to spend $350 million on a new technical and training facility at Istanbul's underutilized Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.

THY divested its 50% holding in Cyprus Turkish Airlines (Kıbrıs Türk Hava Yolları) in 2005.

[32] In December 2011, the Turkish government unveiled plans to modernize the Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, which became one of the newest flight destinations of the carrier in 2012.

Among the scheduled renovations are new airport systems and infrastructure, including a modern control tower to monitor the airspace.

[33] In March 2012, Turkish Airlines became the first international carrier to resume flights to Somalia since the start of that country's civil war in the early 1990s.

By the end of 2013, Turkish Airlines had increased their number of flight points to 241 destinations worldwide (199 international and 42 domestic).

[34] The airline began increasing operations at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport as it positioned it as a secondary hub.

[35][36] Following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt, the Federal Aviation Administration temporarily banned flights between Turkey and the United States.

[39] The airline already announced significant reductions in operations for the upcoming 2016–2017 schedule period with frequency cuts to 45 European and 13 intercontinental routes.

[48] On 18 December 2024, the airline announced the commencement of its flights to Santiago, marking Chile as the 10th country served in the Americas and bringing its total destinations in the region to 26.

[85][86] In December 2024, the airline officially earned a Guinness World Record title for connecting the highest number of countries, 131.

Currently, residents of Turkey, Israel, Azerbaijan, Germany, Jordan and the United States are offered with Miles&Smiles credit card by programme member local banks.

[144] Turkish Airlines has been the official carrier of several European football clubs such as Galatasaray, Manchester United,[146] FC Barcelona,[147] Borussia Dortmund,[148][149] Olympique de Marseille,[150] Aston Villa,[151] FK Sarajevo,[152] and Hannover 96.

[153] The airline has also made sponsorship and promotion deals with renowned athletes and actors, including[154] Lionel Messi,[155] Kobe Bryant,[155] Caroline Wozniacki,[156] Kevin Costner,[157] Wayne Rooney,[157] and Didier Drogba.

[160] On 22 October 2013, Turkish Airlines and Euroleague signed an agreement to prolong their existing sponsorship deal by five years until 2020.

[162] Turkish Airlines was the kit sponsor of Galatasaray for the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League and Bosnian club FK Sarajevo.

Since then, the airline has continued its sponsorship of Galatasaray and has also been the kit sponsor for the European campaigns of other Turkish clubs such as Trabzonspor and Başakşehir.

[163][164] On 29 January 2016, Turkish Airlines announced its partnership with Warner Bros. to sponsor the film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

[165] That year, the airline also teamed up with a number of Turkish tourist agencies in the production of the romantic comedy film Non-Transferable.

[168][169] In February 2019, Turkish Airlines arranged to become partial sponsors for League of Ireland First Division side Drogheda United.

[172] Turkish Airlines Flight Academy (TAFA) was established by the 28th THY Board on 10 November 2004, and started training with 16 cadets on 1 May 2006.