Target: Türk Hava Yolları A.O. (Turkish Airlines) Domain: Military Evidence review date: 23 October 2026 Scope: Israeli defence procurement, military logistics, defence manufacturing, occupied-territory operations, military-related group relationships and associated regulatory history.
Direct Defence Contracting & Procurement
Israeli Ministry of Defense and security procurement
The Israeli Ministry of Defense reported on 27 May 2025 that an extensive military airlift had delivered more than 90,000 tonnes of military equipment through 800 flights, including munitions, armoured vehicles, protective equipment and medical supplies. The announcement identifies Israeli military and defence procurement organisations as coordinators but does not identify Turkish Airlines as an operator or contractor.1
A further Israeli Ministry of Defense announcement dated 19 June 2025 reported continued military airlift operations, including 14 additional aircraft carrying military equipment following the launch of Operation Rising Lion. Turkish Airlines was not identified among the participants.2
No public evidence identified of a direct contract between Turkish Airlines and the Israeli Ministry of Defense, IDF, Israel Prison Service or Israeli Border Police in the reviewed official military logistics announcements.1, 2
Defence trade directory listings
The Israel Airports Authority maintains an official Turkish Airlines directory entry identifying the airline’s Israeli contact information and Laufer Aviation GHI as its ground-handling provider. The listing describes civilian airline operations and does not identify a defence procurement relationship.3
No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines appearing as a contracted supplier in the reviewed Israeli military procurement announcements.1, 4
Defence cooperation and corporate announcements
On 10 October 2023, Turkish Airlines Senior Vice President Media Relations Yahya Üstün announced the suspension of flights to Israel until further notice. The reported announcement concerned civilian airline services.5
Bulgarian News Agency independently reported the cancellation of Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines services on 11 October 2023.6
No public evidence identified of a Turkish Airlines defence cooperation agreement, Israeli military joint venture or Israeli security-sector memorandum of understanding in the reviewed official and corporate records.7, 8
Dual-Use Products & Tactical Variants
Civilian products and potentially dual-use services
Turkish Airlines’ 2025 Modern Slavery Statement identifies passenger and cargo transportation as its principal business activities, supported by a worldwide aviation network. The company describes itself as an air transportation operator rather than principally a goods manufacturer.7
The statement reports an aircraft fleet of 516 and a network of 356 destinations for 2025. These figures describe the company’s civilian aviation scale and do not establish military end-use.7
No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines marketing tactical aircraft variants, military-specific freight systems or weapons-oriented software products to Israeli security forces in the reviewed corporate disclosure.7
Civilian-to-military distinction
The Israel Airports Authority identifies Turkish Airlines as an airline operator and names Laufer Aviation GHI as its ground-services provider. Neither the company listing nor the ground-handling identification establishes a military end-user.3
The Israeli Ministry of Defense’s military airlift announcements demonstrate that defence-related cargo flights occurred, but they do not identify Turkish Airlines as a carrier.1, 4
End-user certification and export licensing
The Turkish Directorate of Communications stated on 27 March 2024 that widely circulated claims about Turkish exports of weapons and ammunition to Israel mischaracterised several customs classifications. The government identified some reported products as sporting or hunting-related accessories, gel fuel and lighter fluid.9
The statement concerned national export statistics and did not identify an export licence, military end-user certificate or controlled-goods shipment involving Turkish Airlines.9
No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines-specific Israeli military end-user certifications or defence export licences in the reviewed government material.9, 10
Heavy Machinery, Construction & Infrastructure
Equipment used in occupied territories
Turkish Airlines’ 2025 corporate disclosure describes passenger and cargo transportation as its principal operations. It does not identify the company as a manufacturer of heavy construction machinery.7
No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines-owned machinery or vehicles being deployed for settlement construction, Palestinian property demolition, separation-barrier construction or military-base engineering in the reviewed corporate and official records.7, 3
Direct and indirect equipment supply
The Israel Airports Authority identifies Laufer Aviation GHI as Turkish Airlines’ ground-handling provider at Ben Gurion Airport. This is a civilian airport-service relationship and does not establish supply of machinery to military or settlement operators.3
No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines supplying settlement construction machinery through Israeli distributors or secondary-market resale in the reviewed material.3, 7
Construction and engineering contracts
The company’s 2025 corporate activity description identifies aviation transportation as its primary business and does not establish contracts for Israeli checkpoints, detention centres, military bases or settlement infrastructure.7
No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines holding construction or engineering contracts for Israeli military installations or infrastructure in occupied Palestinian territory.7, 8
Supply Chain Integration with Defence Primes
Israeli defence manufacturers
The Israeli Ministry of Defense’s August 2024 military supply announcement identifies a large-scale military equipment logistics operation but does not name Turkish Airlines as a supplier or freight contractor.4
The May 2025 announcement similarly identifies transport of munitions, armoured vehicles and other equipment without attributing procurement, manufacturing or transport services to Turkish Airlines.1
No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines supplying components or manufacturing services to Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems or IMI/Elbit Land in the reviewed official military announcements.1, 4
Specific component categories
The company’s 2025 Modern Slavery Statement identifies air transportation as its principal activity and does not establish production of military optical systems, electronics, guidance assemblies, propulsion units or weapons components for Israeli defence manufacturers.7
No public evidence identified of a Turkish Airlines-specific military component supply arrangement with an Israeli defence prime.7, 1
Joint development and co-production
UK Companies House records include Turkish Airlines group accounts for 2024 and 2025, providing a corporate reporting source for further examination of group activities.8
The reviewed corporate information does not establish a named Turkish Airlines joint weapons-development, military co-production, defence technology-transfer or licensed manufacturing agreement with an Israeli defence company.7, 8
No public evidence identified of a Turkish Airlines Israeli military technology-development partnership in the examined records.7, 8
Logistical Sustainment & Base Services
Historical Israeli aviation operations
Before October 2023, Turkish Airlines operated more than ten daily flights between Istanbul and Tel Aviv, rising to approximately sixteen daily flights during peak periods according to subsequent Israeli aviation-industry reporting.11
The Israel Airports Authority’s Turkish Airlines listing identifies the airline’s Israeli representation and Laufer Aviation GHI as its ground-handling provider.3
These records establish civilian aviation and ground-service arrangements without identifying dedicated transport for the IDF or other Israeli military bodies.3, 11
Suspension and subsequent operating decisions
Turkish Airlines suspended services to Israel in October 2023 following the outbreak of hostilities.5, 6
On 3 April 2024, Globes reported that Turkish Airlines flights to Israel previously available for booking had been cancelled through March 2025.12
In January 2025, aviation reporting stated that Turkish Airlines was retaining its valuable Ben Gurion Airport slots despite the continued suspension of services.13
On 6 February 2025, Globes reported industry speculation concerning a possible partial resumption of Tel Aviv–Istanbul operations later that year. This was a forecast rather than confirmation that services had resumed.14
On 28 April 2025, Globes reported that Turkish Airlines and Pegasus had decided to relinquish their Ben Gurion Airport landing and departure slots.15
AeroTime independently reported on 29 April 2025 that the airlines had handed back the slots and would not reinstate the suspended services.16
Airways and Ynet also documented the April 2025 decision, corroborating the termination of the previously retained airport-slot arrangements.17, 18
Military-base services
The Israeli Ministry of Defense identified military logistics operations coordinated through its procurement authorities and the Israeli Air Force during 2024–2025, but its examined announcements did not identify Turkish Airlines as a base-services contractor.1, 4
No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines providing contracted catering, fuel, facilities maintenance, military personnel transport or other dedicated services to Israeli military bases, prisons or security installations.1, 3
Shipping, freight and military cargo
On 26 August 2024, the Israeli Ministry of Defense reported that more than 50,000 tonnes of military equipment had reached Israel through 500 flights and 107 maritime shipments. It identified the equipment categories but did not name Turkish Airlines.4
On 27 May 2025, the ministry reported that the operation had expanded to 800 aircraft and approximately 140 maritime shipments.1
The Turkish Directorate of Communications stated in March 2024 that Türkiye did not engage in military ammunition trade, military training or exercises with Israel. The statement did not disclose individual commercial-carrier cargo manifests.9
No public evidence identified of a Turkish Airlines-operated flight, air waybill, dedicated freight contract or military cargo shipment specifically serving Israeli defence logistics in the reviewed records.1, 4
Geographic specificity
The Israeli Airports Authority lists Turkish Airlines at an address in Ramat Gan and identifies its historical Ben Gurion Airport ground-handling arrangements. These records do not establish operations at military facilities in the West Bank, East Jerusalem or Golan Heights.3
No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines providing military logistics services to Israeli installations in occupied Palestinian territory in the examined records.3, 1
Munitions, Weapons Systems & Strategic Platforms
Lethal systems manufacturing
Turkish Airlines’ disclosed principal business is passenger and cargo air transportation. Its 2025 corporate statement does not establish production of lethal weapons systems.7
No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines manufacturing small arms, artillery, armoured combat vehicles, armed drones, warships or lethal platforms supplied to Israeli forces.7, 8
Munitions and precursor materials
The Turkish Directorate of Communications stated on 27 March 2024 that customs categories cited in allegations about continuing weapons exports to Israel had been misinterpreted. It specifically described some purported explosive-product exports as gel fuel and lighter fluid.9
No public evidence identified in that statement of Turkish Airlines transporting ammunition, explosives, chemical propellants, warheads or munitions precursors to Israeli military end-users.9
Strategic defence platforms
The Israeli Ministry of Defense’s 2025 military airlift announcements describe the transport of military equipment but do not identify Turkish Airlines as a manufacturer, integrator or maintenance contractor for Israeli strategic platforms.1, 2
No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines contributing to Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow, Israeli fighter aircraft, main battle tanks, military vessels or ballistic missile systems in the reviewed material.1, 7
Critical military subsystems and targeting software
Turkish Airlines’ 2025 corporate statement describes an aviation transportation business and does not establish a military targeting, fire-control, weapons-guidance or autonomous kill-chain product line.7
No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines developing or supplying purpose-built kinetic targeting software, strategic military electronics or other weapons-specific critical subsystems to Israeli defence end-users.7, 8
Export Licensing, Regulatory & Legal History
Turkish export restrictions
On 27 March 2024, Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications publicly disputed claims that Turkish exports to Israel included military ammunition and explosives, distinguishing customs tariff classifications from military weaponry.9
The Bank of Israel reported on 19 March 2025 that Türkiye had introduced trade restrictions during April–May 2024 and that Israeli exports to Türkiye subsequently ceased from May 2024.19
The same Bank of Israel analysis reported that Israeli statistics continued to record some imports of Turkish products, attributing much of the discrepancy between Israeli and Turkish data to trade through third economies and customs arrangements involving the Palestinian Authority.19
The Bank of Israel’s analysis concerns aggregate bilateral trade and does not attribute any shipment to Turkish Airlines or establish that reported goods were destined for Israeli military end-users.19
Defence procurement and government statements
On 14 November 2024, Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications rejected claims that the Turkish Ministry of National Defence had selected an Israeli supplier for an aircraft-related procurement requirement. The statement described unsuccessful attempts to procure cooling fluid for F-4 aircraft.10
That procurement dispute concerned Türkiye’s own military requirements and does not establish Turkish Airlines participation in Israeli defence procurement.10
Airspace and military cargo controls
On 2 September 2025, ch-aviation reported clarification of Turkish restrictions announced by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan: the restrictions concerned official Israeli aircraft and flights carrying weapons or ammunition, while ordinary commercial overflights were treated separately.20
The same report stated that Israeli commercial airlines continued using Turkish airspace and that flight-routing observations had not identified an immediate general prohibition on civilian overflights.20
These restrictions concern Turkish governmental airspace policy and do not establish a Turkish Airlines-specific export licence, enforcement action or military cargo contract.20
Legal challenges and enforcement
No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines being named in a defence-export enforcement proceeding, arms embargo prosecution or Israeli military supply-related judicial challenge in the examined governmental and corporate records.9, 10, 8
No public evidence identified of an export licence granted, denied, suspended or revoked specifically for Turkish Airlines’ provision of equipment to Israeli military or security end-users.9, 10
Civil Society Scrutiny & Documented Investigations
Corporate and institutional records
Turkish Airlines’ 2025 Modern Slavery Statement identifies Türkiye Wealth Fund as the company’s largest shareholder, with a 49.12% holding as of 31 December 2025.7
The statement describes the company’s principal activities as passenger and cargo transportation and associated aviation services.7
UK Companies House records identify the company as Türk Hava Yolları Anonim Ortaklığı and list corporate accounts filed in January and April 2026.8
No public evidence identified in these reviewed corporate records establishing military-channel donations, Israeli defence-prime investments or dedicated Israeli military procurement contracts attributable to a controlling shareholder or company principal.7, 8
Civil society allegations and investigations
The Turkish government published a rebuttal on 27 March 2024 to allegations that the country continued exporting military ammunition and explosive materials to Israel. The statement concerned national trade classifications and did not identify Turkish Airlines as a responsible carrier.9
The Bank of Israel subsequently confirmed that direct trade restrictions had affected economic activity while also identifying residual trade through third economies. Its March 2025 report does not identify Turkish Airlines as a military logistics intermediary.19
No public evidence identified of a Turkish Airlines-specific military supply relationship in the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s examined military airlift announcements.1, 2, 4
Boycott and divestment
The October 2023 suspension of Turkish Airlines’ Israel services was publicly announced following the escalation of hostilities, according to Anadolu Agency.5
The April 2025 relinquishment of Ben Gurion Airport slots was separately documented by Globes, AeroTime and Airways.15, 16, 17
Those reported operating decisions do not themselves establish that Turkish Airlines had previously supplied Israeli military equipment or that the airline was responding to a defence-specific boycott campaign.5, 15
No public evidence identified in the reviewed records of an institutional divestment decision or organised defence-procurement boycott specifically alleging a Turkish Airlines contract with Israeli armed forces.7, 15
Corporate responses and policy developments
The October 2023 statement attributed to Turkish Airlines Senior Vice President Media Relations Yahya Üstün confirmed that flights to Israel had been suspended until further notice.5
A January 2025 aviation report documented the airline’s continued retention of Ben Gurion Airport slots while scheduled services remained suspended.13
The subsequent April 2025 relinquishment of those slots was documented independently by multiple aviation publications.15, 16, 18
No public evidence identified of a Turkish Airlines corporate announcement terminating a named Israeli military supply contract, adopting defence-specific end-use monitoring commitments or ending a previously disclosed weapons-transport agreement.5, 7, 15
Temporal scope and continued activity
Commercial passenger services to Israel had been suspended from October 2023, while subsequent reporting documents retained airport slots through early 2025 and their relinquishment in April 2025.5, 13, 15
The Israeli Ministry of Defense continued documenting substantial military airlift operations after July and November 2024, but the examined announcements do not identify Turkish Airlines as participating.1, 2, 4
The reviewed evidence therefore establishes historical civilian aviation ties and subsequent withdrawal from scheduled Israeli operations, while identifying no verified Turkish Airlines-specific military supply transaction continuing after those dates.3, 5, 15
Footnotes
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Israel Ministry of Defense, “800th Aircraft in Military Airlift Operation Arrives in Israel,” 27 May 2025. https://www.mod.gov.il/en/press-releases/press-room/800th-aircraft-in-military-airlift-operation-arrives-in-israel ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16
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Israel Ministry of Defense, “Israel MOD Continues its Airlift and Sealift Operations of Military Equipment and Armaments to Israel,” 19 June 2025. https://mod.gov.il/en/press-releases/press-room/israel-mod-continues-its-airlift-and-sealift-operations-of-military-equipment-and-armaments-to-israel ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5
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Israel Airports Authority, “Turkish Airlines,” official airline-company directory. https://www.iaa.gov.il/en/companies/airline-companies/turkish-airlines/?referrerId=4965 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11
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Israel Ministry of Defense, “Israel Receives 500th Military Supply Aircraft in Ongoing Airlift Operation,” 26 August 2024. https://mod.gov.il/en/press-releases/press-room/israel-receives-500th-military-supply-aircraft-in-ongoing-airlift-operation ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9
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Anadolu Agency, “Turkish Airlines halts flights to Israel ‘until further notice’,” 10 October 2023. https://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/turkish-airlines-halts-flights-to-israel-until-further-notice-/3014646 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8
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Bulgarian News Agency, “Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Cancel Flights to and from Israel,” 11 October 2023. https://www.bta.bg/en/news/balkans/542491-turkish-airlines-pegasus-cancel-flights-to-and-from-israel ↩ ↩2
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Turkish Airlines, “Modern Slavery Statement 2025,” corporate disclosure reproduced by MarketScreener, 2026. https://www.marketscreener.com/news/turk-hava-yollari-anonim-ortakligi-modern-slavery-statement-2025-ce7f5fd9dd8cf723 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22 ↩23
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UK Companies House, “Türk Hava Yolları Anonim Ortaklığı (Turkish Airlines Inc),” company FC006459, filing history. https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/FC006459/filing-history ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10
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Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications, “Statement regarding the claim ‘Türkiye continues to export weaponry to Israel’,” 27 March 2024. https://www.iletisim.gov.tr/English/haberler/detay/statement-regarding-the-claim-turkiye-continues-to-export-weaponry-to-israel ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10
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Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications, statement concerning allegations of Israeli supplier selection by the Turkish Ministry of National Defence, 14 November 2024. https://www.iletisim.gov.tr/turkce/haberler/detay/milli-savunma-bakanligi-eylulde-yaptigi-alim-icin-israilli-firmayi-secti-iddiasina-iliskin-aciklama ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5
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The Jerusalem Post / Globes, “Despite tensions, Turkish Airlines holds onto Tel Aviv flight slots,” 14 January 2025. https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-837493 ↩ ↩2
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Globes, “Turkish Airlines cancels Israel flights until March 2025,” 3 April 2024. https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-turkish-airlines-cancels-israel-flights-until-march-2025-1001475596 ↩
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Globes, “Turkish Airlines still saving Tel Aviv flight slots,” 13 January 2025. https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-turkish-airlines-still-saving-tel-aviv-flight-slots-1001499272 ↩ ↩2 ↩3
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Globes, “Turkish Airlines mulls resuming Israel flights,” 6 February 2025. https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-turkish-airlines-mulls-resuming-israel-flights-1001501483 ↩
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Globes, “Turkish carriers forego slots at Ben Gurion Airport,” 28 April 2025. https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-turkish-carriers-forego-slots-at-ben-gurion-airport-1001508964 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8
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AeroTime, “Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines axe Israel flights, hand back slots,” 29 April 2025. https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/turkish-airlines-and-pegasus-airlines-axe-israel-flights-hand-back-slots ↩ ↩2 ↩3
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Airways, “Turkish Carriers Let Go of Their Slots at Tel Aviv Airport,” 28 April 2025. https://www.airwaysmag.com/new-post/turkish-carriers-let-go-slots-tel-aviv ↩ ↩2
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Ynetnews, “The skies are closed: British, Turkish airlines suspend Tel Aviv route,” 28 April 2025. https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/rycpt6njlg ↩ ↩2
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Bank of Israel, “The Impact of the Turkish Embargo on Israel’s Economy,” 19 March 2025. https://www.boi.org.il/en/communication-and-publications/press-releases/box-from-the-forthcoming-bank-of-israel-annual-report-for-2024-the-impact-of-the-turkish-embargo-on-israels-economy/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4
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ch-aviation, “Türkiye bans official Israeli flights, but not commercial,” 2 September 2025. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/157794-turkiye-bans-official-israeli-flights-but-not-commercial ↩ ↩2 ↩3