Turkish Cargo made great strides in 2020 when the pandemic started and continued its high performance in 2021. During this period, total cargo revenues rose to USD 4 billion, with a 22% increase in cargo unit revenues and a 48% increase in cargo revenues. In terms of freight ton-km, Turkish Cargo’s market share rose from 1% in 2011 to 5.2% in 2021, ranking fifth globally. While IATA average freight ton-km growth was 6.9% compared to 2019, Turkish Cargo achieved an increase of 38% in this period. As a result, some of the loss in passenger operations was compensated by higher cargo contribution. Carrying medicines, vaccines, medical supplies, humanitarian aid, and food to all corners of the world without interruption in order to ensure that the supply chain is not disrupted, Turkish Cargo boosted its share in the world air cargo market. Turkish Cargo was named the fastest-growing global cargo carrier, especially with the arrangement made for the use of passenger aircraft for cargo transportation. Thanks to its robust fleet and extensive flight network, Turkish Cargo played an important role in the fight against the pandemic with the millions of doses of vaccine it carried. During the pandemic, more than 370 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine with different temperature requirements were delivered to 71 destinations on five continents. Turkish Cargo was also one of the most active air cargo carriers in the sector in vaccine transportation.
Uncertainty in travel demand made demand forecasting very difficult. Schedule plans, normally finalized at least six months in advance, had to be changed on a weekly or even daily basis. Turkish Airlines effectively managed its operations by implementing a dynamic planning strategy against the rapidly changing market structure. Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier airline of Türkiye, reunited citizens from abroad who were trying to return to Türkiye with their families via large-scale evacuation operations carried out as a humanitarian effort. A total of 238,228 passengers were evacuated with 1,853 evacuation flights during the pandemic. As the airline that flies to the most countries and international destinations in the world, Turkish Airlines quickly became aware of certain measures, such as border closures, which countries implemented or were expected to implement, thanks to its extensive know-how, its command of the international market, and its offices in these countries. As a result, Turkish Airlines was able to make capacity shifts within its schedule instantaneously. Turkish Airlines had the capability to organize many flights by acting very quickly and effectively against the restrictions imposed by various countries during the pandemic.
FROM BOUTIQUE AIRLINE TO THE TOP IN 20 YEARS
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