Turkish Airlines is celebrating adding its 500th aircraft to its fleet while reaffirming the carrier’s ambition to reach 1,000 by 2036.
Details behind the new Airbus A350-900 were announced by Turkish Airlines on February 13, 2026, despite the aircraft operating commercially for the first time on January 6, 2026, according to Planespotters.net.
The A350-900, registered TC-LHH, features a truly unique livery composed of individual photos of Turkish Airlines’ 100,000 employees and retirees.
Named ‘TK Family’ to reflect the significant milestone, the A350-900 was officially unveiled at Istanbul Airport (IST), attended by executives from Turkish Airlines and its subsidiaries, former senior executives and current and former employees.
According to Trukish Airlines, it received its 100th aircraft in August 2006, 200th in November 2012, 300th in February 2016 and 400th in March 2023.
“Our 500th aircraft represents far more than a new addition to our fleet; it stands as a symbol of 93 years of dedication, determination, and shared vision. Having considerably accelerated our journey to the top after 2003 with 65 aircraft, today we take pride in reaching 356 destinations across six continents with over 500 aircraft,” said Ahmet Bolat, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee.
As part of this unveiling, the “TK Family” aircraft performed a special ceremonial flight, tracing the number 500 in the sky to mark the beginning of the airline’s ‘Second 500’ era.
“Twelve years ago, when we filmed our ‘When You Dream’ commercial with 247 aircraft and 247 destinations, the 500th aircraft was a dream. Witnessing that dream become reality today holds a special meaning for the entire Turkish Airlines family. We see our 500th aircraft not as a milestone marking an end, but as the beginning of the ‘Second 500’ era. In line with our goal of reaching a fleet of 1,000 aircraft by 2036, we remain committed to positioning our country as one of the global hubs of aviation,” added Bolat.
