ISTANBUL: August 22, 2017. Turkish Airlines has reported cargo revenue of US$580 million for the first six months of 2017 (H1) – a rise of 25 percent year-on-year.

Total international passenger and cargo revenue for the period was US$3.9 billion of which 60 percent was derived from Europe and Asia markets.

Cargo and Mail carried in H1 increased 27.8 percent to 615,087 tons from 481,337 tons in 2016. Revenue for Q2 ending June 30 rose 29.2 percent year-on-year to reach US$327 million.

By the end of July the airline's widebody fleet had risen from 86 to 90 including 15 freighters serving 72 destinations – up from 55 at the beginning of last year and seven in the last two months including Prague where the airline held a reception for customers (right).

As a result Turkish Cargo said it has become the third largest carrier linking Pakistan, Poland and the UAE to the rest of the world, and increased its traffic with China by 46.8 percent year-on-year.