Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines is the flag carrier of Turkey and one of the world's most extensively connected airlines, flying from its Istanbul hub to more countries than any other carrier. A Star Alliance member, it operates a broad fleet spanning Airbus A320-family and A350 jets alongside Boeing 737 and 777/787 widebodies, linking Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas through Istanbul Airport. It has built a strong reputation for its global network reach and award-winning service.

Flying for Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines develops pilots both through structured cadet and ab-initio training pathways and through direct-entry first officer recruitment for rated and experienced crew. Since 2025 its selection has been standardised around PACE (Pilot Assessment Competency Evaluation), a psychometric platform developed with its technology subsidiary, combined with technical and English-language assessment, simulator evaluation and panel interviews.

Aspiring pilots should be ready for cognitive screening that probes spatial awareness, numerical reasoning, multitasking and reaction under time pressure, followed by simulator checks of handling and crew coordination. Practising aptitude and cognitive assessments in advance is one of the most reliable ways to perform consistently on the timed, high-pressure stages.