Is Turkey Airlines Safe? An In-Depth Look at the Airline’s Safety Record

With stunning landscapes, delicious food, and vibrant culture, Turkey has become a popular tourist destination in recent years And for many travelers, Turkish Airlines is the carrier of choice for flights to Istanbul and beyond But is flying with Turkish Airlines actually safe?

As one of the fastest growing airlines in Europe, Turkish Airlines transports over 60 million passengers per year The airline operates a large fleet of new generation Boeing and Airbus aircraft and serves over 300 destinations worldwide. But amidst its rapid expansion, some travelers have wondered whether Turkish maintains adequate safety standards

After thorough research, the evidence clearly shows that Turkish Airlines has an excellent safety record that rivals other top global carriers. Here’s an in-depth look at the facts around Turkish Airlines’ safety, standards, and performance.

Turkish Airlines Receives Top Safety Ratings

Independent aviation rating agencies have recognized Turkish Airlines with their highest possible safety scores.

Airlineratings.com, one of the world’s most trusted airline safety and product rating sites, recently upgraded Turkish Airlines to a 7-star airline safety rating, their maximum level. This rating takes into account serious incidents over the past 5 years and Turkish was found to have an extremely low incident rate. AirlineRatings praised Turkish’s “superb safety record” and noted that safety is a top priority across all aspects of the airline’s operations.

Turkish Airlines also holds the prestigious IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification. IOSA is an internationally recognized evaluation system designed to assess operational management and control systems at airlines. Audits cover 8 key areas including flight operations, aircraft engineering and maintenance, cabin operations, and ground handling services. Successfully undergoing IOSA audits verifies that Turkish Airlines adheres to global operational safety standards.

A Young Fleet Ensures Modern Safety Features

The average age of Turkish Airlines’ fleet is just 9.1 years old, making it one of the youngest fleets of any major airline. Their planes rely on the latest aviation technology to enhance safety.

For example, all of Turkish’s Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 aircraft come equipped with modern avionics, advanced navigation systems, and computerized fault diagnostics. This newer generation of aircraft provide pilots with state-of-the-art tools to avoid problems and improve situational awareness.

In addition, all widebody aircraft at Turkish feature the newest safety innovations like advanced turbulence detection radar and integrated electronic flight bags in the cockpit By investing in new aircraft, Turkish Airlines ensures its pilots and cabin crews benefit from contemporary design and safety enhancements

Extensive Pilot Training Programs

Turkish Airlines has implemented training programs that go above and beyond international requirements for flight crew education.

Unlike many airlines, Turkish requires all new pilots to complete a demanding 18-24 month training program. This gives them far greater preparation compared to the typical 6-12 month training at other carriers.

Turkish Airlines also opened their own Flight Training Center in 2017. This $60 million state-of-the-art facility provides advanced training devices and simulators for pilots as well as cabin crew. By directly managing training programs, Turkish leaves nothing to chance when it comes to pilot preparedness and safety knowledge.

The airline also sets strict requirements for captains and first officers focused on experience levels, flight hours, and route familiarity. Together with their extensive schooling, this produces highly skilled cockpit crews.

Engine Maintenance Carried Out at Turkish Technic

Routine maintenance on Turkish Airlines’ large fleet of aircraft is performed by Turkish Technic, the airline’s in-house Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) organization.

Turkish Technic operates from two main campus locations in Istanbul and provides maintenance, repair, and overhaul services for Turkish’s own aircraft as well as other airline customers. With 14 hangar locations, Turkish Technic can handle up to 245 aircraft at a time.

By utilizing their own MRO provider, Turkish Airlines maintains close oversight and quality control over the safety of aircraft servicing and engine maintenance procedures. Turkish Technic is certified by leading aviation authorities and adheres to the highest global safety standards.

Excellent Long-Term Safety Record

Over its 90+ years of operation, Turkish Airlines has maintained a consistently excellent safety record with very few accidents or incidents. The last fatal accident at Turkish Airlines occurred over 30 years ago in 1974.

According to AviationSafetyNetwork data, Turkish Airlines has only suffered a total of 19 accidents since its founding in 1933. Only 4 of those accidents have resulted in fatalities. To put those statistics in perspective, other major airlines often have a similar or higher number of total accidents and fatal events over their history despite having operated for fewer years.

The low accident figures demonstrate Turkish Airlines’ long-term commitment to safety across changing decades, routes, and aircraft types. For 2022 and future years, travelers can feel confident in the airline’s experience and focus on safe operations.

High Marks for COVID-19 Response

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Turkish Airlines implemented effective policies to protect passengers and crew from coronavirus infection and transmission.

The airline was one of the first carriers to require passengers to wear masks onboard flights. They also enhanced aircraft cleaning procedures, applied special antiviral cabin coatings, introduced flexible rebooking policies, and reduced onboard food and beverage services.

These actions earned Turkish Airlines top ratings from both AirlineRatings.com and Skytrax for COVID-19 compliance and passenger care. By taking health risks seriously, Turkish maintained passenger confidence even during the height of pandemic disruptions.

Passenger Reviews Confirm Smooth Flight Experiences

One of the best ways to gauge an airline’s true performance is to look at impartial passenger reviews. Here again, Turkish Airlines earns consistently positive feedback regarding its service and flight operations.

On rating sites like Skytrax and TripAdvisor, Turkish Airlines scores higher than many competitors and earns praise for friendly service, new planes, and smooth flights. Customers widely report polite cabin crews, efficient on-time performance, and excellent maintenance that deliver a comfortable, glitch-free flying experience.

Final Verdict: Yes, Turkish Airlines is Safe

Based on their modern aircraft, extensive training programs, skilled crews, top safety audits, long-term record, COVID response, and real customer feedback, Turkish Airlines has clearly earned its place among the world’s safest, highest quality airlines.

While no carrier is perfect, the factual evidence overwhelmingly supports the safety of flying with Turkish Airlines. For travelers planning upcoming trips to Turkey or connecting onwards to other destinations, Turkish is an excellent airline option that provides safe, reliable, and enjoyable air transportation.

So rest assured – you can book your next flight with Turkish Airlines secure in the knowledge that their commitment to safety will ensure a stress-free journey. Your focus can remain on the pleasures of exploring your destination, confident you made the right choice with your airline.