By Bosphorus News Defense Desk
Baykar is preparing to establish a commercial air cargo operation in Istanbul, according to job postings on the company's own recruitment platform that identify the Airbus A321 Passenger-to-Freighter (A321P2F) for domestic and international services.
There has been no formal launch announcement. The vacancies, however, cover much more than cockpit crews and point to an airline organization being built across flight operations, ground services, airworthiness, safety and regulatory compliance.
Baykar builds Cargo AOC organization
The positions are grouped under "Cargo AOC," referring to the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) required to conduct commercial air operations.
Baykar describes the project in its recruitment material as a new commercial air cargo business operating domestic and international routes in accordance with national and international civil aviation regulations.
Open positions include A321P2F captain and first officer, ground operations manager, crew planning manager, security manager, dangerous goods specialist and loading personnel, as well as posts responsible for continuing airworthiness, quality and safety management.
Some of the senior vacancies specifically involve creating departments and preparing them for certification and operations. The crew planning position, for example, calls for experience in the establishment, certification and operational preparation of a new cargo airline.
The first officer listing identifies the A321P2F as the aircraft type, Istanbul as the location and domestic and international cargo flights as the intended operation.
The recruitment material therefore sets out much of the project before Baykar has formally presented it: a commercial cargo carrier based in Istanbul, operating the A321P2F and recruiting the personnel required for certification and flight operations.
Baykar has not disclosed the carrier's name, launch date or planned fleet size.
A321P2F selected for cargo operations
The A321P2F is a freighter conversion of Airbus' A321 passenger aircraft. Airbus lists a payload of up to 28 metric tons and a range of approximately 2,300 nautical miles, or about 4,260 kilometers.
The aircraft accommodates containerized freight on both decks, with up to 14 container positions on the main deck and 10 below. The configuration is aimed at short- and medium-haul cargo operations without requiring the capacity of a wide-body freighter.
An Istanbul base would place much of Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the Caucasus within the aircraft's published range. Baykar has not identified prospective routes or customers.
Civil aviation portfolio expands
The project comes as Baykar has been extending its presence beyond unmanned aircraft manufacturing.
The company completed its acquisition of Italian aircraft manufacturer Piaggio Aerospace in June 2025, adding an established producer of business aircraft and aviation engines to its portfolio.
Operating a commercial cargo airline would require a separate set of capabilities. The vacancies now being advertised cover flight crews, ground operations, continuing airworthiness, safety management and the regulatory functions needed to obtain and maintain commercial operating approval.
The postings show that recruitment for that organization is under way. Until certification is completed and commercial flights begin, the carrier remains in the establishment phase.
Sources: Baykar careers platform, Airbus, Baykar corporate disclosures, Bosphorus News review and reporting.