Turkey’s Competitive Position in International Air Cargo Strategies: An Evaluation Through Istanbul Airport

Year 2025, Volume: 2 Issue: 2, 73 - 92, 30.10.2025

Mehmet Ayrancı

Abstract

Global air cargo logistics has undergone a significant transformation, particularly in the post-pandemic era, with a strong emphasis on digitalization, sustainability, and strategic integration. In this context, Istanbul Airport has emerged as a pivotal logistics platform reinforcing Turkey’s central role in international air freight transport. This study evaluates the competitive position of Istanbul Airport in comparison with major global air cargo hubs such as Frankfurt, Dubai, Doha, and Hong Kong, based on indicators such as cargo volume, connectivity, transshipment efficiency, digital infrastructure, sustainability practices, and geopolitical leverage. Findings reveal that Istanbul offers strong physical infrastructure and a wide destination network. However, limitations in digital system integration, customs procedures, and data coordination hinder its operational efficiency and transshipment performance. Particularly, Istanbul’s transshipment rate of 42% indicates a need for further strategic investment in becoming a consolidation hub. Through the lens of Logistics Capability Theory and Porter’s Diamond Model, it becomes evident that Istanbul must transition from a volume-based approach to a service-quality and innovation-driven air cargo strategy. In conclusion, Istanbul Airport’s potential to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage in the global air cargo network will depend on its ability to implement integrated, technology-focused, and environmentally responsible logistics solutions. This study fills an existing gap in the literature by comparatively analyzing Istanbul Airport's competitive position within international air cargo strategies against major global logistics hubs, and provides significant policy recommendations for the development of Turkey's logistics infrastructure.

Keywords

Istanbul Airport , air cargo , competitiveness , logistics strategies , digitalization , sustainability , transshipment

Uluslararası Hava Kargo Stratejilerinde Türkiye’nin Rekabetçi Konumu: İstanbul Havalimanı Üzerinden Bir Değerlendirme

Abstract

Küresel hava taşımacılığı, özellikle pandemi sonrası dönemde dijitalleşme, sürdürülebilirlik ve stratejik entegrasyon gibi kavramlarla yeniden şekillenmiştir. Bu bağlamda İstanbul Havalimanı, Türkiye'nin hava kargo taşımacılığında merkezi rolünü güçlendiren önemli bir lojistik platform haline gelmiştir. Çalışmada, İstanbul Havalimanı’nın küresel rekabet gücü; kapasite, bağlantısallık, transshipment oranı (aktarmalı kargo taşımacılığı), dijitalleşme düzeyi, sürdürülebilirlik uygulamaları ve jeopolitik konum gibi kriterler doğrultusunda değerlendirilmiştir. Karşılaştırmalı analizlerde Frankfurt, Dubai, Doha ve Hong Kong gibi lider hava kargo merkezleri referans alınmıştır. Araştırmanın bulguları, İstanbul’un fiziksel altyapı ve destinasyon ağı açısından güçlü olduğunu; ancak dijital sistem entegrasyonu, gümrük süreçleri ve veri paylaşımı gibi alanlarda gelişime açık olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Özellikle transshipment oranının %42 seviyesinde kalması, İstanbul’un konsolidasyon merkezi olma hedefinde stratejik yatırımların henüz yeterince etkin olmadığını göstermektedir. Lojistik yetkinlik ve Porter’ın Elmas Modeli çerçevesinde yapılan değerlendirmeler, İstanbul Havalimanı’nın sadece taşıma kapasitesine değil, entegre hizmet kalitesine odaklanması gerektiğini vurgulamaktadır. Sonuç olarak, İstanbul Havalimanı’nın küresel düzeyde sürdürülebilir rekabet avantajı elde edebilmesi; dijital dönüşüm, çevresel sorumluluk, uluslararası iş birliği ve ileri teknoloji temelli planlama stratejilerinin bir bütün olarak uygulanmasına bağlıdır. Bu çalışma, İstanbul Havalimanı'nın uluslararası hava kargo stratejilerindeki rekabetçi konumunu, küresel lojistik merkezlerle karşılaştırmalı olarak analiz ederek literatürde mevcut olan bir boşluğu doldurmakta ve Türkiye’nin lojistik altyapısının gelişimine yönelik önemli politik öneriler sunmaktadır.

Keywords

hava kargo , rekabet gücü , lojistik stratejileri , dijitalleşme , sürdürülebilirlik , İstanbul Havalimanı

Supporting Institution

Bu çalışma, Atatürk Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinasyon Birimi tarafından desteklenmiştir (Proje No: 14753).

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