Published on September 13, 2025
Turkish Joins Lufthansa, Ryanair, LATAM, Finnair, and More in Surpassing Passenger Growth Expectations as Global Travel Demand Soars in 2025 due to a combination of strong international traffic, improved seat utilization, and strategic fleet expansion. As the aviation sector continues its remarkable recovery in 2025, Turkish Airlines has emerged as a key player in this global surge, posting impressive growth alongside other major European carriers such as Lufthansa, Ryanair, and Finnair. These airlines are not only seeing higher passenger numbers but also improving operational efficiencies, indicating a broader trend of resilience and growth within the industry. With robust travel demand driving performance across the sector, Turkish Airlines’ strategic initiatives, alongside the achievements of its peers, underscore a positive outlook for global air travel in 2025.
The global aviation industry continues to experience a remarkable recovery, with several key players achieving impressive passenger growth and operational efficiency in 2025. Among the airlines leading this resurgence, Turkish Airlines stands out as one of the most significant contributors. The airline’s recent performance highlights its successful efforts to capitalize on the robust demand for air travel, in line with trends seen across Europe and beyond. Turkish Airlines’ growth has been paralleled by several other major carriers, including Lufthansa, Ryanair, LATAM, and Finnair, all of whom are experiencing similar surges in passenger numbers and improving operational metrics.

Turkish Airlines: A Leader in Growth

Turkish Airlines reported carrying 60.7 million passengers in the first eight months of 2025, marking a 5.8% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This impressive growth highlights the airline’s strong position within the aviation industry as it benefits from increased demand for both international and domestic travel. The airline’s performance reflects its strategic focus on enhancing operational efficiency and expanding its global network.
The airline’s load factor for the first eight months of 2025 was an impressive 82.7%, with a notable increase in seat utilization. This performance marked a 0.6 percentage point improvement from the previous year, showcasing Turkish Airlines’ ability to maximize its fleet’s efficiency. Specifically, international flights posted an 82.3% load factor, while domestic operations fared even better with an 86.7% load factor, indicating the airline’s resilience and ability to capitalize on both international and local demand.

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A key highlight for Turkish Airlines has been its strong international transfer traffic. International-to-international passengers increased by 10.3% year-on-year, reaching 23.1 million between January and August 2025. This boost in transfer traffic aligns with Turkish Airlines’ long-term strategy of positioning Istanbul as a leading global aviation hub, connecting passengers between Europe, Asia, and Africa.
The airline’s success is also reflected in its cargo operations. Turkish Airlines reported a 5.4% increase in cargo and mail volumes, transporting 1.4 million tons of goods compared to 1.3 million tons in the previous year. This growth in cargo is further evidence of the airline’s resilience and adaptability in a challenging global environment.

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By the end of August 2025, Turkish Airlines’ fleet had grown to 501 aircraft, a clear sign of its ongoing capacity expansion. This fleet growth enables the airline to open new destinations and increase frequencies on popular routes, further solidifying its position as Türkiye’s flagship carrier.

August 2025: A Strong Performance

In August 2025, Turkish Airlines continued its momentum with a remarkable 11.9% increase in passengers, carrying 9.4 million people compared to the same month in 2024. The airline’s transfer traffic remained strong, with international-to-international passengers rising by 17.3% year-on-year to 3.49 million. This significant jump underscores Turkish Airlines’ strategy to leverage its geographic advantage and attract both transfer and point-to-point passengers.
The monthly passenger load factor reached an outstanding 86.7%, improving by 0.9 percentage points from August 2024. International flights performed well with an 86% load factor, while domestic services performed even better, with an exceptional 92.6% load factor. This performance is indicative of the high demand seen during the summer travel season and the airline’s ability to efficiently manage its seat inventory.
Additionally, Turkish Airlines reported an 8.2% increase in available seat kilometers (ASK), rising to 25.3 billion in August 2025. This expansion in available capacity demonstrates the airline’s ongoing commitment to meeting growing passenger demand. Moreover, the airline’s cargo and mail volumes exceeded 191,100 tons in August, marking a 10.5% increase compared to the same month in 2024.

Strategic Focus: Resilience in a Competitive Environment

Despite the broader pressures faced by the aviation sector, Turkish Airlines has maintained resilience through its diversified operations. The airline’s focus on both passenger and cargo services has allowed it to weather industry challenges and maintain consistent growth. Its capacity expansion is also a key factor, as Turkish Airlines continues to increase frequencies on popular routes and open new destinations, further solidifying Istanbul’s role as a crucial global hub.
One of the standout features of Turkish Airlines’ strategy is its hub-and-spoke model, which efficiently connects passengers through Istanbul. This model capitalizes on Turkey’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, attracting passengers who are either connecting to other international destinations or flying direct to their final point of arrival.
Looking ahead, Turkish Airlines is on track to close 2025 with record passenger numbers and increased cargo volumes. The airline’s steady load factors, coupled with its significant growth in available seat kilometers, suggest sustained operational efficiency and performance.

The European Aviation Landscape: Strong Performers Across the Region

As Turkish Airlines continues to outperform expectations, it is not alone in experiencing substantial growth. Several European airlines have also reported notable passenger increases, demonstrating the resilience of the industry as a whole. Among these, Ryanair, LATAM, Aegean Airlines, Lufthansa, and Finnair have all posted strong performances, contributing to the broader trend of recovery and growth in the aviation sector.

Ryanair: Operational Efficiency Drives Growth

Ryanair, one of Europe’s largest low-cost carriers, reported carrying 21 million passengers in August 2025, a 2% increase year-on-year. The airline’s load factor remained high at 96%, a testament to its ability to efficiently manage capacity and meet demand. Despite the challenges faced by the aviation industry, Ryanair has maintained a strong position through operational efficiency and a consistent commitment to delivering low-cost services.

LATAM Airlines: Expanding Operations Across the Americas

LATAM Airlines has also seen significant growth, with its Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPK) increasing by 10.8% year-over-year in August 2025. The airline’s Available Seat Kilometers (ASK) rose by 9.4%, and its load factor improved to 85.4%, up 1.1 percentage points from August 2024. This performance was driven by a 12% increase in international operations and an 11.3% rise in domestic capacity. LATAM’s continued growth reflects the strong demand for air travel across the Americas, as well as the airline’s successful expansion strategies.

Aegean Airlines: A Steady Increase in Capacity

Aegean Airlines, Greece’s largest airline, achieved a 6% increase in passenger numbers in 2024, reaching 16.3 million. Looking forward to 2025, the airline plans to offer 21.5 million seats, an increase of 1.8 million from the previous year. Aegean Airlines is enhancing both its international and domestic routes, with a focus on further expanding its network and improving service offerings.

Lufthansa Group: Integration and Growth Strategy

The Lufthansa Group, which includes subsidiaries such as Austrian Airlines, Swiss, and Brussels Airlines, is making significant strides in its turnaround plan. The group has managed to reduce flight cancellations to just 1% and improve customer satisfaction, with growth driven by its lower-cost subsidiaries like City Airlines and Discover. Lufthansa is also working on streamlining operations by integrating its subsidiaries, aiming for more efficient group-wide performance.

Finnair: Overcoming Challenges and Expanding Network

Finnair, the flag carrier of Finland, reported a 3.2% increase in passenger numbers in August 2025 compared to the same month in 2024. Despite facing challenges, Finnair continues to expand its network and improve its service offerings. The airline remains committed to strengthening its position in both domestic and international markets as it works to meet growing demand.

Key Highlights of Airline Growth in 2025

• Turkish Airlines: Carried 60.7 million passengers in the first eight months of 2025, a 5.8% year-on-year increase.
• Ryanair: 21 million passengers in August 2025, with a 96% load factor.
• LATAM Airlines: 10.8% increase in Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPK) in August 2025.
• Aegean Airlines: 6% increase in passenger numbers in 2024, with plans to offer 21.5 million seats in 2025.
• Lufthansa Group: Reduced flight cancellations to just 1% and is focusing on integrating subsidiaries for improved performance.
• Finnair: 3.2% increase in passenger numbers in August 2025, continuing network expansion.

As 2025 progresses, the aviation industry is seeing strong signs of recovery, with Turkish Airlines and several European carriers continuing to exceed expectations. The overall increase in passenger numbers, alongside improved operational metrics such as load factors and seat utilization, reflects the resilience of the global airline industry. Airlines like Turkish Airlines, Ryanair, LATAM, Aegean Airlines, Lufthansa, and Finnair are well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for air travel, with expanded fleets, improved efficiencies, and a focus on enhancing passenger experiences.
Turkish Joins Lufthansa, Ryanair, LATAM, Finnair, and More in Surpassing Passenger Growth Expectations as Global Travel Demand Soars in 2025 due to strong international transfer traffic, improved seat utilization, and fleet expansion, which have positioned these airlines to thrive amidst a global surge in air travel.
With demand for travel showing no signs of slowing, the aviation sector is poised for another year of growth, with airlines continuing to push for new heights in both passenger and cargo services. The future looks bright for these major carriers as they continue to adapt to the ever-changing demands of the global travel market.

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Tags: lufthansa, passenger growth, Travel News, Turkish Airlines

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