Istanbul-headquartered MNG Airlines is a leading independent logistics provider and a global e-commerce enabler that has earned a respected position in the industry. Today, the company employs close to 1,000 people and has a global network covering four continents and over 40 countries through more than 100 routes, making use of its strategic geographical position between Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
Performing scheduled and block space, charter, ACMI, warehouse and technical and ramp services, MNG Airlines provides fast and reliable services to its clients. With its customised sorting system MNG Airlines can handle all types of e-commerce cargo at its state-of-the-art warehouse facilities, which offer 15,000 m² of space in five different cities.
Company CEO Ali Sedat Özkazanç explains that MNG is one of a kind in the aviation industry – in addition to its scheduled flight network, MNG Airlines offers tailor-made services which include flight, cargo & ground handling, as well as 3PL services, trucking, e-fulfilment, custom bonded warehousing, and advisory services. To this end, the company operates several business models with a view to act as a one-stop shop for door-to-door cargo transportation.
“Such a diversified business offering is unusual in our sector and provides a lot of opportunities. It has also helped us earn a reputation for reliability and punctuality, not only in terms of air transport but also in terms of cargo deliveries to their destinations.”
25 years of excellence
2023 was a special year for the company since it celebrated its 25th anniversary, an important milestone, marking its growth trajectory from Türkiye’s first private air cargo company to a market leader providing a global network of services and connecting customers to markets around the world.
The business was founded in 1996 and a year later started to provide scheduled cargo services to Hahn (Germany) and Stansted (England) with a mid-range Airbus A300. Since then, the growth and service expansion have not stopped. “Aviation has meant logistics for us since we were established as Türkiye’s first private cargo airline,” says Ali Sedat Özkazanç.
MNG Airlines was the first Turkish company to invest in the acquisition and conversion of the A330 aircraft into a freighter in 2020. Further investment in assets followed, and today the company’s fleet consists of five Airbus A300-600, two Airbus A321-200s, two Airbus A330-200s and two A330-300P2Fs. The company has received an Operational Excellence Award from Airbus for its A300/A300-600 freighter fleet four times over the last 15 years and is listed as one of the best A300/A310 operators in the world.
Ali Sedat Özkazanç reflects that to survive and grow in a severely competitive aviation environment is the company’s greatest achievement. “We have collected many awards on our journey and have become the first company in the world to operate all of the Airbus freighter types.”
“While we have grown with our New York and Toronto flights on the North American continent, we are also expanding our presence in Asia with our Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan flights. We have also strengthened our operation in Europe where we now cover all countries.”
Responsible business
He further affirms that MNG’s robust market position should be attributed, first of all, to its employees. “Our success would not have been possible without our customers, but my biggest thanks go to our dedicated employees, who have made MNG Airlines a quarter-century brand.”
“We are proud to say that our staff turnover is very small. We established flexible working models long before Covid-19 forced us to work from home, and we give our employees the opportunity to create a healthy work-life balance.”
MNG is not only a responsible employer; overall social responsibility is high on the company’s agenda and its employees participate in many good-cause initiatives. Last year, the company provided ground transport, logistics and air cargo services to aid victims of the devastating February earthquakes. MNGA has mobilized a fleet of cargo trucks to deliver emergency aid to the affected region and volunteered several of its aircraft to transport relief goods.
“Employees now expect their companies to look beyond the job they do and consider how they interact with society and their social responsibilities. For this reason, we work with non-governmental organisations in a range of areas including the environment, education and health.”
“We support education by recycling our electronic waste. We also give children with cancer new heroes by organising fairy tale workshops and helping to keep their morale high. We have fun running in marathons and raise funds for the treatment of our children through these activities.”
“These collaborations not only fulfil our company’s social responsibility, but also provide a meaningful contribution to our employees. By acting in a way that is sensitive to the needs of society, we strive for a sustainable future and aim to provide social benefit.”
Flexible logistics solutions
“As in any business, sustainability is a big topic for us, and in addition to contribution to community development we also actively promote environmental sustainability. To achieve the highest fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emission per tonne of cargo, we have been continuously investing in fleet modernisation. This is a key topic for us.”
Just recently, the company announced its newest addition to the MNG Airlines family – the A-330-200F, registered as TC-MCU. This aircraft strengthens the MNG’s presence in the aviation industry with its modern design, high performance, and environmentally friendly features.
Ali Sedat Özkazanç affirms that despite market volatility, the business is on track with its growth plans. “There are many challenges, including competition from state-owned airlines and cross-country flying frequency limitations but we are pro-actively pushing for a change.”
He reflects that in 2023, MNG’s long-term perspective enabled the company to achieve success that added value to both its stakeholders and to the business, and in 2024 the company is set to build on that success. The focus will be on developing strategies to increase performance with a more holistic approach to productivity and investing in innovation across all operational processes.
“We will strive to sustain our leadership in Türkiye in the area of air cargo transportation by highlighting customer satisfaction and flight safety. This is in line with our vision to win a permanent and major position in the globally increasing air cargo market by producing high value-added, customized and flexible logistics solutions.”
