Turkish Airlines hired 500 new pilots in 2018: CEO

ANKARA-Anadolu Agency

Turkey’s flag carrier Turkish Airlines employed 500 new pilots in 2018 and the number of new pilots is expected to reach 1,100 by the end of the year, the airline’s chief executive officer said.

Speaking at a ceremony, Bilal Ekşi said 500 pilots, including 41 captains and 286 first officers, will be trained by the company, according to a press release published on Oct. 18.

“The fact that the majority of pilots are Turkish shows the importance given by Turkish Airlines to the development of Turkey’s aviation,” he noted.

According to the statement, the flag carrier will have over 500 aircraft by 2023. Last year, the airline carried 68.6 million passengers with a 79.1 percent seat occupancy rate.