Turkish Airlines Names New Chairman and CEO in Internal Leadership Restructure
Turkish Airlines has confirmed a restructure of its executive leadership, appointing Murat Şeker as Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, and naming Ahmet Olmuştur as Chief Executive Officer, according to a report by trade publication Connecting Travel.
Both appointments represent internal promotions, with the carrier drawing on long-serving executives rather than conducting an external search.
Şeker: From CFO to Chairman
Şeker has served as Chief Financial Officer since 2016 and has been a member of the Board and Executive Committee since 2021. In his previous role he oversaw the airline's financial strategy, encompassing treasury, procurement and investor relations. He also sits on the boards of Turkish Technic and SunExpress, and has chaired the International Air Transport Association Financial Advisory Council since 2025.
Olmuştur: A Commercial Career Spanning Two Decades
Olmuştur brings more than 20 years at Turkish Airlines to the CEO role, having begun his career at the carrier in a call centre position before progressing through revenue management, pricing and distribution. Most recently he led commercial operations, with responsibility for sales, network performance and demand management.
Context: Growth Agenda and Strategic Moves
The leadership transition comes as Turkish Airlines pursues an active expansion programme. The carrier reported a US$1.1 billion operating profit in the third quarter of 2025. It has also taken a minority investment in Spain-based Air Europa, a move aimed at strengthening its position on transatlantic routes. At Istanbul Airport, the airline is investing in new cargo, maintenance and service facilities in preparation for further capacity growth and increased passenger volumes.
Why It Matters
For the travel trade, the identities and backgrounds of the incoming chairman and CEO carry operational significance. Şeker's grounding in financial strategy and investor relations signals continued discipline around capital allocation at a carrier that has been expanding its fleet and infrastructure commitments. Olmuştur's commercial background — spanning revenue management, pricing and distribution — is directly relevant to tour operators, bedbanks and DMCs that negotiate capacity and fares with the airline. A commercially oriented CEO may accelerate decisions on network development, partnership structures and distribution strategy, all of which affect how the trade accesses Turkish Airlines inventory.
The Air Europa minority stake and the Istanbul Airport infrastructure investments suggest the restructure is designed to provide executive continuity during a period of deliberate scaling, rather than signal a strategic pivot. Trade partners should monitor whether the new leadership team adjusts commercial terms or partnership priorities as capacity grows.
Note: This report is based on coverage by Connecting Travel, a trade publication. AegeanWire has not independently verified the appointments against a primary Turkish Airlines press release and will update this article if further detail becomes available.
