UAE Joins Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, And Other Countries In Middle East To Power Turkish Airlines Remarkable Travel Expansion, Leading To A Surge In Traffic And Market Share In The First Eleven Months Of 2025

Published on December 10, 2025

UAE joins Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and other countries in the Middle East in significantly boosting Turkish Airlines’ growth in the first eleven months of 2025, driven by strategic capacity expansions, route restarts, and strong demand across these key regional markets. The airline’s ability to tap into high-growth destinations, enhance its network connections, and partner with key regional players like Etihad Airways has led to an impressive surge in passenger numbers and cargo traffic. As Turkish Airlines continues to solidify its presence in the Middle East, these countries play a crucial role in propelling its success and market dominance in 2025.

Turkish Airlines, one of the world’s leading carriers, has experienced remarkable growth in 2025, largely driven by expanding its presence in the Middle East. Countries like the UAE, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Libya, and Afghanistan have all played vital roles in Turkish Airlines’ success this year. This unprecedented growth is a combination of capacity expansions, route restarts, and surging demand across these high-potential regions. Let’s explore how each of these Middle Eastern nations has contributed to this impressive performance.

UAE: A Strategic Partner in Growth

The UAE, particularly through its major hubs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, has proven to be one of Turkish Airlines’ most lucrative markets. The carrier’s collaboration with Etihad Airways, which involves a codeshare agreement, has notably boosted frequencies between Istanbul and Abu Dhabi. The UAE market remains a high-volume Gulf hub for Turkish Airlines, despite minor route adjustments. Turkish Airlines’ commitment to the UAE is reflected in its ability to offer convenient connections for both business and leisure travelers, especially those connecting to Europe, Asia, and North America. This strategic partnership has increased Turkish Airlines’ capacity and route options, contributing significantly to passenger growth in 2025.

The growing demand for travel to and from the UAE has further solidified the airline’s position in the Gulf region. According to the November 2025 traffic results, Turkish Airlines carried 7.4 million passengers, a significant achievement. The rise in demand, along with strategic partnerships like the one with Etihad, has resulted in an enhanced network, ensuring that travelers have more options than ever before.

Iraq: A Market Poised for Strong Growth

Iraq, which has historically been a key route for Turkish Airlines, has seen even more significant developments in 2025. The airline’s decision to resume flights to Sulaymaniyah in November after a 2.5-year hiatus is a major milestone. Sulaymaniyah’s reopening highlights Turkish Airlines’ strategic approach to tapping into markets with high-demand US-bound traffic. Iraqi travelers, particularly those flying to the United States, have been a key demographic for Turkish Airlines.

The restart of Sulaymaniyah flights not only strengthens Turkish Airlines’ network within Iraq but also deepens its connections between the Middle East and the United States. The resurgence in US-bound traffic from Iraq and Turkish Airlines’ ability to offer seamless connections via Istanbul has made the carrier a top choice for Iraqi passengers seeking international travel.

The expanded service between Istanbul and Iraq has contributed to Turkish Airlines’ 18.9% growth in international-to-international passenger traffic in November 2025. This is reflective of how Turkish Airlines has strategically navigated regional political landscapes and utilized its strong presence in the Middle East to bolster its growth.

Saudi Arabia: A Dominant Regional Player

Saudi Arabia has been one of the standout countries in Turkish Airlines’ Middle Eastern growth story. The kingdom ranks as the third-largest international market for the airline, a position it has maintained due to consistent capacity expansions and route restarts. A key highlight in 2025 was the addition of flights to Yanbu, a city with growing business and pilgrimage-related traffic. This route is a vital addition as Saudi Arabia’s pilgrimage and business travel sectors continue to grow.

The capacity to Saudi Arabia surpassed pre-2019 levels, allowing Turkish Airlines to cater to the surge in regional passengers. The strong demand for flights between Istanbul and cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Yanbu has resulted in the airline seeing an overall increase in regional passenger numbers.

As of August 2025, Turkish Airlines recorded a 19.3% growth in regional passengers, further underscoring the importance of Saudi Arabia as a cornerstone of the airline’s success. This capacity growth has significantly bolstered Turkish Airlines’ market share in the Middle East, cementing its dominance in the region.

Syria: Rebuilding Connections Post-Conflict

Syria’s role in Turkish Airlines’ 2025 growth cannot be overlooked. After a prolonged absence due to the ongoing conflict, Turkish Airlines resumed flights to Syria in January 2025, with the reopening of routes to Damascus and Aleppo. The resumed flights, which include three weekly services to Damascus, have tapped into the growing demand for travel from Syria to Europe and North America.

This move is part of Turkish Airlines’ broader strategy to reconnect cities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The resumed Syria services are especially significant as they provide key links to important international markets, further strengthening the airline’s network and offerings in the Middle East. Passengers flying from Syria can now access Turkish Airlines’ extensive network via Istanbul, offering seamless connectivity to Europe and beyond.

The restoration of Syria’s routes highlights Turkish Airlines’ commitment to rebuilding its presence in critical markets that were once affected by conflict, and this has been crucial in driving growth in the Middle Eastern sector.

Libya: Reinforcing North African-Middle Eastern Links

Libya’s role in Turkish Airlines’ regional expansion also cannot be understated. After more than a decade-long hiatus, Turkish Airlines re-entered the Libyan market, restoring flights to both Tripoli and Benghazi. This move has been instrumental in enhancing Turkish Airlines’ links between North Africa and the Middle East, creating a more robust regional network.

Libya has been a critical market for Turkish Airlines due to the country’s historical ties with Turkey. The airline’s re-entry has been well-received, as business, diplomatic, and tourism travel between Libya and Turkey has surged. The resumption of flights between Istanbul and Libyan cities marks a significant step toward strengthening ties between the two nations and supporting Libya’s recovery markets.

As Turkish Airlines focuses on rebuilding its North African routes, Libya’s reintegration into the airline’s network reflects its ability to adapt to regional changes and meet demand in post-conflict markets.

Afghanistan: Expanding Connections in South Asia

Afghanistan, which was reintroduced into Turkish Airlines’ network in 2024 after a three-year hiatus, has contributed to the airline’s regional expansion in 2025. The resumed flights to Kabul and other major Afghan cities provide vital links between Afghanistan and the rest of the Middle East. With the political landscape in Afghanistan stabilizing, Turkish Airlines has capitalized on the opportunity to offer more connections to this underserved market.

Afghanistan’s re-entry into Turkish Airlines’ network strengthens its position in South Asia and enhances its ability to serve passengers traveling between Afghanistan and key destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. The airline’s robust network in the region is now more comprehensive, and this expansion is a testament to Turkish Airlines’ strategic approach in targeting high-growth markets in South Asia.

The Bigger Picture: Turkish Airlines’ 2025 Performance

In total, Turkish Airlines carried 7.4 million passengers in November 2025, a clear indication of the airline’s growth trajectory across the Middle East. The carrier’s available seat kilometres (ASK) increased by 10.3%, reflecting its expanded capacity to meet rising demand. Additionally, the airline’s cargo and mail business saw significant growth, increasing by 14.8% compared to the previous year.

The total number of passengers carried in the first eleven months of 2025 reached 85.3 million, marking an 8.4% increase compared to 2024. This achievement highlights the continued demand for international travel, particularly across Turkish Airlines’ Middle Eastern routes. The airline’s overall load factor was recorded at 83.2%, with strong international and domestic demand.

UAE joins Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and other countries in the Middle East in boosting Turkish Airlines’ growth in the first eleven months of 2025, thanks to expanded capacity, strategic route restarts, and rising demand across these key regional markets. This growth highlights Turkish Airlines’ strengthened position in the Middle East and its ability to tap into high-demand destinations.

The growth of Turkish Airlines in 2025 is a direct result of its strategic investments in the Middle East. By focusing on expanding its footprint in key markets like the UAE, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Libya, and Afghanistan, the airline has not only increased its passenger numbers but has also strengthened its regional influence. As Turkish Airlines continues to build on these successes, the Middle East will remain a cornerstone of its long-term growth strategy, driving both passenger and cargo business in the years to come.