Turkish Airlines POLITICAL

Target: Türk Hava Yolları Anonim Ortaklığı (Turkish Airlines) Evidence review date: 23 October 2026 Scope: Corporate political communications, Israel-Palestine operations, state and institutional relationships, governance, executive conduct, political financing, and mobilisation of corporate assets.

Corporate Communications & Public Stance

Official response to October 2023 hostilities

On 10 October 2023, Turkish Airlines suspended flights to Israel until further notice, with senior media relations executive Yahya Üstün stating that the suspension was due to the situation in Israel.¹

The airline’s announcement concerned flight operations; the cited statement did not set out a comprehensive corporate position on the legal or political status of Israel, Palestine, Gaza, or the occupied Palestinian territory.¹

Subsequent operational communications

On 3 April 2024, Israeli business publication Globes reported that Turkish Airlines had removed Istanbul–Tel Aviv reservations from its booking system through March 2025, following the airline’s earlier suspension of the route.²

On 29 April 2025, The Jerusalem Post reported that Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines had relinquished their slots at Ben Gurion Airport, indicating that neither planned to resume the affected services in the immediate scheduling period.³

Airways independently reported the relinquishment on 28 April 2025, noting that the carriers’ existing services had been suspended following the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023.⁴

Comparative public response: Ukraine

In February 2022, Turkish Airlines suspended Ukrainian services after the closure of Ukrainian airspace following Russia’s invasion.⁵

On 5 March 2022, Hürriyet Daily News reported that former Turkish Airlines chairman Ahmet Bolat had publicly discussed the commercial effect of the Ukraine war and that the airline had assisted in evacuating 130 members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe from Sochi.⁶

On 28 February 2022, Anadolu reported that the airline had extended the suspension of Ukraine and Moldova services and described the affected Ukrainian destinations.⁷

The airline also publicly announced its October 2023 Israel suspension through an identified corporate spokesperson, providing a documented public response to both regional crises.^{1, 5}

Market framing

Before October 2023, Turkish Airlines maintained substantial commercial passenger connections between Istanbul and Tel Aviv, with Israeli aviation reporting describing more than ten daily flights before the suspension.⁴

The airline’s 2025 corporate reporting identifies international passenger and cargo transportation as its principal business and describes its worldwide aviation network in commercial operating terms.⁸

Palestinian tourism engagement

[pre-2020] On 26 May 2019, Anadolu reported that Turkish Airlines regional sales representative Muhammed Fatih Durmaz met Palestinian Tourism Minister Rola Maayia in Bethlehem and discussed cooperation to increase tourism to Palestine; whether this specific cooperation continued after 2019 is unknown.⁹

Operations in Occupied or Contested Territories

Commercial operations in Israel

Prior to October 2023, Turkish Airlines operated scheduled Istanbul–Tel Aviv services through Ben Gurion Airport, reportedly exceeding ten daily flights and reaching higher frequencies during peak periods.⁴

On 10 October 2023, Turkish Airlines suspended flights to Israel until further notice.¹

On 3 April 2024, Globes reported the cancellation of bookable Turkish Airlines services through March 2025.²

On 29 April 2025, The Jerusalem Post reported the carrier’s relinquishment of its Ben Gurion Airport slots, following a prolonged operational suspension.³

Airways reported that the relinquishment could allow competing airlines to obtain the released slots and would make any eventual restoration of the same operating times more difficult.⁴

Operations involving occupied Palestinian territory

[pre-2020] In May 2019, a Turkish Airlines representative attended discussions with the Palestinian Tourism Ministry in Bethlehem concerning tourism cooperation; the report described a meeting and proposed cooperation, without documenting the airline’s operation of an airport or physical installation in the West Bank.⁹

No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines operating a settlement-based airport facility, retail establishment, or directly documented settlement transport contract in the reviewed corporate operating disclosures and Palestine-related reporting.^{8, 9}

Ramon Airport and state-coordinated repatriations

On 4 October 2025, Anadolu reported that a Turkish Airlines aircraft departed Ramon Airport in southern Israel carrying 137 released Global Sumud Flotilla activists, including 36 Turkish citizens.¹⁰

On 21 May 2026, Anadolu reported that three Turkish Airlines aircraft collected more than 420 activists from Ramon Airport after their release from Israeli detention, with the repatriations coordinated through Turkish diplomatic authorities.¹¹

These reports identify repatriation flights involving Israeli airport infrastructure rather than the restoration of the previously suspended scheduled Istanbul–Tel Aviv service.^{3, 11}

International legal and regulatory scrutiny

The company’s reviewed corporate operating disclosures and documented Israel flight history do not establish a company-specific proceeding concerning settlement activity or the operation of facilities in occupied Palestinian territory; no public evidence identified of such a proceeding in those sources.^{8, 12}

No verified Turkish Airlines-specific entry was established from the reviewed material concerning UN settlement-business listings; no public evidence identified in the sources examined.^{8, 12}

Civil-society boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaigns

No public evidence identified of a formal, company-specific BDS Movement designation, divestment resolution, or organised sanctions action directed at Turkish Airlines on the basis of Israeli settlement involvement in the reviewed sources.^{3, 4, 8}

The documented removal of Israel flights and subsequent relinquishment of airport slots is supported by operational reporting; those reports do not establish that an organised boycott campaign caused the airline’s decisions.^{1, 3}

Internal Governance, Content & Retail Policies

Employee relations and political expression

No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines dismissing, disciplining, or suing employees specifically for pro-Palestinian speech, Palestinian symbols, Gaza-related union activity, or participation in Palestine solidarity campaigns in the reviewed corporate governance and public operational sources.^{12, 13}

No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines shareholder-resolution suppression specifically concerning Israel-Palestine due diligence in the reviewed 2026 governance disclosures.¹²

Platform and editorial policy

No public evidence identified of company-operated algorithmic suppression of Palestinian content, Gaza-related content removal, or Palestine-specific moderation rules in the reviewed corporate and governance sources.^{8, 13}

No public evidence identified of regulatory findings against Turkish Airlines concerning Palestine-related censorship or unequal treatment of political content in the reviewed materials.^{8, 13}

Retail, sourcing, labelling, and settlement products

The company’s 2025 modern slavery statement identifies aviation passenger and cargo services as the principal business and states that the airline is not primarily engaged in manufacturing or retailing goods.⁸

No public evidence identified of regulatory action against Turkish Airlines concerning the mislabelling of Israeli settlement products or the deliberate marketing of settlement-origin goods in the reviewed corporate materials.^{8, 12}

Military reservist policies and charitable matching

No public evidence identified of a documented Israeli military reservist salary subsidy or a Palestine-specific employee donation matching policy operated by Turkish Airlines in the reviewed group and governance disclosures.^{8, 13}

Brand Heritage & State Partnerships

Historical identity and state aviation heritage

Turkish Airlines was incorporated in Türkiye in 1933 and identifies itself as the Turkish national flag carrier in its corporate reporting.^{8, 14}

Its corporate branding and operating disclosures identify international aviation, passengers, cargo, and associated services as its commercial activities.⁸

State ownership and governance

For 31 December 2025, the airline reported that Türkiye Wealth Fund held 49.12% of its share capital and that the company was controlled by the fund.¹⁴

Its capital structure included one privileged Class C share held by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Treasury and Finance Privatization Administration.¹⁴

Corporate governance disclosures dated 2026 explain that the privileged Class C share confers special rights concerning the nomination of board and auditor candidates.¹²

These arrangements establish a formal governmental ownership and corporate governance relationship.^{12, 14}

Palestinian governmental engagement

[pre-2020] In May 2019, Turkish Airlines participated in discussions with the Palestinian Tourism Ministry in Bethlehem concerning tourism and cooperation; continuation of that particular initiative after 2019 is unknown.⁹

Corporate partnerships

The airline’s 2025 integrated annual report identifies SunExpress as a joint venture involving Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa AG and lists Air Albania and other aviation and logistics businesses within its associated-company network.¹⁵

The reviewed associated-company disclosure does not establish a corporate sponsorship agreement with Israeli government cultural promotion programmes or Israeli settlement institutions; no public evidence identified.¹⁵

Military and security-sector branding

No public evidence identified of Turkish Airlines using Israeli military heritage, Israeli defence procurement, or Israeli military operations as part of its commercial brand identity in the reviewed official corporate descriptions.^{8, 15}

Lobbying, Advocacy, Financing & Logistics

Political lobbying and advocacy

The reviewed company governance disclosures identify state shareholding and board nomination arrangements but do not document specific Turkish Airlines lobbying expenditure directed towards Israeli settlement policy, anti-BDS legislation, or Israeli defence policy; no public evidence identified.^{12, 14}

No public evidence identified of company-funded PAC contributions or donations to AIPAC, CFI, FIDF, JNF/KKL, Regavim, or settlement advocacy organisations in the reviewed corporate and governance disclosures.^{8, 12}

Direct financing of military-welfare or settlement organisations

No public evidence identified of a direct corporate donation by Turkish Airlines to the IDF, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, Israeli reservist funds, or Israeli military-welfare institutions in the reviewed corporate financial and governance disclosures.^{12, 14}

No public evidence identified of a corporate donation to Israeli settlement construction, settlement advocacy, or related political organisations in the reviewed disclosures.^{12, 14}

Corporate asset mobilisation: December 2023

On 4 December 2023, Anadolu reported that a Turkish Airlines aircraft transported 142 Turkish citizens and family members evacuated from Gaza through Egypt to Istanbul.¹⁶

On 5 December 2023, Anadolu reported that another Turkish Airlines aircraft transported 130 Turkish citizens and family members from Cairo to Istanbul following their evacuation from Gaza.¹⁷

These flights document corporate aviation assets used for civilian evacuation associated with the Gaza conflict.^{16, 17}

Corporate asset mobilisation: October 2025

On 4 October 2025, a Turkish Airlines aircraft departed Ramon Airport in Israel carrying 137 members of the Global Sumud Flotilla who had been detained by Israeli authorities.¹⁰

On 7 October 2025, Anadolu documented another Turkish Airlines flight transporting 15 Turkish activists from Jordan to Istanbul following their release from Israeli custody.¹⁸

On 10 October 2025, a Turkish Airlines flight brought 94 Freedom Flotilla Coalition activists from Jordan to Istanbul, including 18 Turkish nationals and 76 foreign citizens.¹⁹

Corporate asset mobilisation: May 2026

On 1 May 2026, Anadolu reported that Turkish Airlines flight TK6934 transported 59 released flotilla activists, including 18 Turkish nationals, from Crete to Istanbul.²⁰

On 21 May 2026, Turkish Airlines operated three aircraft transporting released flotilla activists from Ramon Airport to Istanbul, with Turkish authorities coordinating the operation.¹¹

Anadolu separately documented the three aircraft arriving in Istanbul and the reception of passengers by family members and officials.²¹

The May 2026 operation occurred after both the 19 July 2024 ICJ advisory opinion and the November 2024 ICC arrest warrants, providing dated evidence of continued Palestine-related corporate aviation activity during that period.¹¹

State military logistics versus corporate logistics

The confirmed evacuation reports specifically identify Turkish Airlines aircraft and flights; the reviewed record does not establish that the carrier provided combat aviation, equipment, or military logistics to Israeli forces.^{10, 11, 16}

Corporate Structure & Primary Mission

Incorporation and commercial mandate

Türk Hava Yolları A.O. was incorporated in Türkiye in 1933 and has been publicly traded on Borsa İstanbul since 1990.¹⁴

The company’s 2025 reporting describes passenger transportation, cargo operations, and related aviation services as its principal commercial activities.⁸

Ownership and voting structure

At 31 December 2025, Türkiye Wealth Fund held 49.12% of ordinary equity, treasury shares accounted for approximately 0.48%, and other publicly held shares represented approximately 50.40%.¹⁴

The Turkish state also retained a privileged Class C share, with the company’s 2026 governance documentation identifying associated board nomination privileges.¹²

The audited financial disclosures explicitly describe Türkiye Wealth Fund as controlling the company.¹⁴

Associated companies

The airline’s 2025 integrated annual report identifies SunExpress, Air Albania, THY Uluslararası Yatırım ve Taşımacılık A.Ş., and other associated commercial entities, together with their published ownership relationships.¹⁵

No public evidence identified in the reviewed group disclosures of a subsidiary whose disclosed principal corporate purpose is financing Israeli settlement development or Israeli military-welfare organisations.^{8, 15}

Corporate mission and political purpose

The reviewed corporate disclosures describe a commercial aviation enterprise under Turkish state control; they do not identify advancing Israeli settlement policy or Israeli military objectives as a stated corporate purpose.^{8, 14}

Executive & Leadership Footprint

Leadership as of October 2026

Turkish Airlines’ 2026 first-quarter board activity report identifies Prof. Dr. Murat Şeker as chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee as of 9 April 2026.¹³

The same report identifies Ahmet Olmuştur as general manager and a board member as of 9 April 2026, with subsequent appointment disclosures confirming his executive committee membership.¹³

Şekib Avdagiç is identified in the company’s board activity report as vice chairman and an independent board member.¹³

Historical senior leadership

In March 2022, Ahmet Bolat was identified as Turkish Airlines chairman and publicly discussed the impact of the Ukraine conflict on airline operations.⁶

In October 2023, senior media relations executive Yahya Üstün publicly announced the suspension of Turkish Airlines flights to Israel.¹

Executive financial contributions

No public evidence identified of direct personal donations by the named current or historical airline executives to FIDF, Israeli military-welfare organisations, settlement organisations, or Israeli political advocacy organisations in the reviewed corporate and public reporting.^{12, 13}

No public evidence identified of a named executive-controlled family foundation providing documented grants to Israeli settlement entities or Israeli defence-support organisations in the reviewed materials.^{12, 13}

Public statements and advocacy

Ahmet Bolat’s public comments in 2022 addressed the commercial effects of the Ukraine war on Turkish Airlines and the company’s ability to manage the disruption.⁶

Yahya Üstün’s October 2023 communication addressed the airline’s suspension of Israel flights.¹

[pre-2020] Muhammed Fatih Durmaz represented Turkish Airlines in a May 2019 meeting with Palestinian Tourism Minister Rola Maayia concerning tourism cooperation, with no subsequent continuation of his specific role established by that report.⁹

Board memberships and affiliations

The 2026 corporate board activity report identifies the company’s directors, executive leadership, their positions, and their committee memberships.¹³

No public evidence identified in the reviewed board and corporate governance disclosures of current senior leadership holding declared official leadership positions in FIDF, AIPAC, CFI, Israeli settlement advocacy groups, or Israeli military fundraising institutions.^{12, 13}

Conduct after July and November 2024

The airline’s April 2025 relinquishment of Ben Gurion Airport slots occurred after the July 2024 ICJ advisory opinion and November 2024 ICC arrest warrants.³

The October 2025 and May 2026 repatriation flights likewise occurred after those legal developments and involved the transport of detained Palestine-related humanitarian activists.^{10, 11, 19}

On 1 November 2025, Turkish aviation publication HavaHaber reported a public statement by Ahmet Bolat, then chairman of Turkish Airlines, during an official visit to Gaziantep. Following a visit to the Panorama Museum, which commemorates Gaziantep’s resistance during the Turkish War of Independence, Bolat reportedly stated: “Ecdadımızın mücadelesini hatırladık, Gazze’de yaşanan zulmün tarih boyunca değişmeyen bir zihniyetin ürünü olduğunu bir kez daha gördük.” In English: “We remembered our ancestors’ struggle and once again saw that the oppression taking place in Gaza is the product of a mentality that has remained unchanged throughout history.” The statement explicitly connected the historical suffering and resistance commemorated at the museum with contemporary events in Gaza. HavaHaber directly attributed the remarks to Bolat and identified him as Turkish Airlines’ chairman, establishing a documented, publicly reported expression of his position on Gaza while serving in that role.²²

The remarks occurred within a wider Gaziantep tourism and cultural-promotion programme involving Turkish Airlines representatives. HavaHaber reported that Bolat visited the ancient city of Zeugma, local museums and historical attractions, and met Gaziantep Governor Kemal Çeber and Metropolitan Mayor Fatma Şahin. A separate report published on 1 November 2025 identified Bolat as Turkish Airlines and AJet chairman and documented his participation in the Gaziantep Promotion Programme at the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, where he discussed international tourism and the airline’s role in promoting Türkiye’s cultural heritage. The Gaza remarks therefore formed part of a documented executive public engagement combining cultural, historical and commercial subjects. The evidence supports attribution of the political statement to the airline’s then-chairman in his official capacity, but does not establish that Turkish Airlines’ board formally adopted the remarks as corporate policy.^{22, 23}