AJet Chairman Ahmet Bolat said the airline is developing a program to support Turkey’s efforts to expand dental and eye-care tourism, a move he said could add $1.5 billion to the country’s $3.5 billion in annual health-tourism revenue.
Bolat told reporters the carrier operates 85 aircraft and employs 3,200 people, including 500 pilots. AJet carried 23 million passengers this year and flies to 34 countries and 100 cities with 1,627 weekly frequencies.
The airline expects to carry 28 million passengers next year and will add Moldova, Romania and Jordan to its network. Weekly frequencies are projected to rise about 15 percent to 1,992. AJet’s 2033 target is 56 million passengers.
Bolat said the airline is expanding international links from Ankara, Sabiha Gökçen Airport and Bodrum, though flight-rights restrictions in Europe limit further growth from Ankara. He said AJet plans flights from Bodrum to 14 countries and 23 cities and is preparing tour packages connecting Ankara, Kayseri, Cappadocia and Kütahya to increase visitor stays.
Turkey attracts 1.5 million health-tourism visitors annually. Bolat said the country is already a recognized destination for hair transplantation and aims to build similar visibility in dental and eye treatment. “We see a major opportunity in dental services,” he said.
AJet’s on-time performance improved to 80 percent this year from 75 percent, above the European average of 69 percent. The fleet is expected to reach 107 aircraft by the end of 2026, with 76 percent new-generation models that use 15 to 16 percent less fuel.
The airline recently passed the IOSA safety audit and has begun the process of joining the International Air Transport Association. With a projected fleet of 150 aircraft in 2029, AJet expects to rank 27th globally by fleet size and 25th by number of flights.
Bolat said AJet is expanding cooperation with Turkish Airlines, including allowing Miles&Smiles points to be used on AJet flights starting in the second half of 2026. The airline will introduce domestically developed in-flight internet in March 2026 and plans to open a fast-track lounge at Sabiha Gökçen Airport for about $30.
He said the company faces no pilot shortage but continues to experience a shortage of technicians.
