The aggressive European expansion of Temu, the China-based e-commerce giant, has turned Türkiye into a strategic hub for air cargo transportation. By reducing delivery times to just a few days, Temu has effectively declared Türkiye a logistics base between Asia and Europe.
The global e-commerce boom has triggered an explosive increase in Türkiye’s air cargo traffic. In particular, Temu’s rapid entry into the Turkish market and its ability to shorten delivery times to mere days are reshaping industry dynamics.
According to data from the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMİ), domestic air cargo traffic in the first five months of 2025 rose by 1.3% to 329,000 tonnes, while international cargo increased by 6% to reach 1.539 million tonnes. As a result, total air cargo volume reached 1.869 million tonnes, crossing a historic threshold.
“Türkiye Has Become a Cargo Bridge Between Asia and Europe”
Serkan Eren, Chairman of the UTIKAD Air Cargo Working Group, summarised the transformation as follows:
“Traditional airport-to-airport shipping has shifted to a direct-to-consumer delivery model. While it resembles courier services, it operates at a much larger scale. Türkiye is now at the heart of this model.”
According to Eren, this shift has not only impacted e-commerce platforms but has also encouraged major logistics firms like FedEx and Trendyol to invest in Istanbul Airport.
“Not Enough Planes for the Chinese” – Supply Struggles to Meet Demand
Chinese platforms like Temu promising delivery within days have made air cargo an attractive option, but this surge in demand is now straining aircraft availability. Eren noted that securing new aircraft can take five to six years, which has led to the rise of hybrid logistics models that combine air and ground transport.
New Routes, New Opportunities
Amid growing traffic, Türkiye is in talks with civil aviation authorities to establish new air corridors with the Far East and to secure more traffic rights for local air cargo carriers.
Although orders from Arab countries have seen a slight decline, the rise of Far East e-commerce is further strengthening Türkiye’s position on the global air logistics map.
