Turkish GSE manufacturer Timsan has produced 11 different models of pushback tractors for more than 15 years. In conversation with Airside, Haldun Aksoy, chairman of the board, highlights the company’s growth priorities over 2026.
Could you outline your pushback tractor portfolio?
The product line includes the remote-controlled electric towbarless tug for small aircrafts and business jets, the TIM20E electric baggage tow tractor, the TIM25 diesel baggage tow tractor, the TIM40 cargo tow tractor, the TIM50-7/ TIM50-8, TIM100-11 / TIM100-14 / TIM100-16, TIM200 and TIM300 pushbacks, and aircraft tow tractors with towing capacities from 20kN up to 300kN. Our tow tractors can service all aircraft ranging from 15 tons up to 400 tons, namely from CN-235 up to A380.
In which regions of the world can one find your GSE?
Since our company exports 80% of its products to more than 70 countries outside Türkiye, our equipment is available at GSE companies all over the world, including Korea, the Philippines, Pakistan, Oman, Norway, Italy, and Romania.
Our customers choose us primarily due to our 44 years of engineering experience, ease of accessibility, 24/7 uninterrupted after-sales support, and our ability to quickly implement continuous developments and improvements, reinforced by our government-supported R&D department when needed.
What is your newest tractor model, and are there any upcoming developments or launches you can share?
Our newest pushback tractor model is the TIM300, which is also our largest model. It is designed for aircraft such as the Boeing 747-400 and the Antonov An-124. This tractor is currently in operation for one of our biggest customers in Cyprus. We are now planning to design a new electric cargo tractor, the TIM40E, which will have a 40kN drawbar pull and a 55-ton towing capacity. It will be available with both traction and lithium batteries.
Looking back at 2025, what market trends in GSE and pushback tractors happened as expected, and was there anything that surprised you?
One trend that happened as expected was a growing focus on total cost of ownership. Customers became more interested in long-term savings rather than just the initial purchase price. They asked more questions about maintenance costs, parts availability, and energy consumption.
What surprised us was the increase in interest from smaller airports and regional operators. We expected growth to come mainly from large international airports, but many small and medium-sized airports also started modernising their fleets in 2025. They realised that efficient GSE helps them increase their competitiveness and reduce operating costs.
Another unexpected development was customers asking for faster delivery times. The industry’s recovery in recent years has created urgent demand, and customers need equipment quickly to handle increasing flight operations. This pushed us to improve our production planning and supply chain management.
What major trends do you anticipate in the pushback tractor market in 2026?
We believe that lithium-ion battery tractors will become more prominent in 2026, and price-performance competition will increase. This increase will bring about new designs and developments. We also plan to further improve our electric models and start producing electric tractors for medium and widebody aircraft.
Do you think electrification as a trend will continue to gain traction in 2026? What is driving the momentum behind this?
Yes, the demand for electric tractors will continue to grow until a new energy source is found and actively used in airports, due to both their environmental benefits and economic advantages. Our customers who have been requesting diesel pushback tractors for the past few years are now asking for lithium batteries; as a result, we sold our first lithium battery-powered tractor this year.
Which regions are currently showing the strongest demand for your tractors, and where are you seeing the greatest opportunities for expansion?
Both our compliance with European standards and the geographical location of Türkiye gives us a competitive edge in both Europe and Asia. In order to have an advantage over other manufacturers in terms of cost, our next goal is to strengthen our presence in the Middle East and Africa, where our sales are lower.
What are Timsan’s growth priorities in 2026 and beyond?
In the first week of 2026, we completed our new tow tractor factory, and our short-term plan for this year is to double our production capacity. We have been moving some of our production to the new factory in order to produce various kinds of GSE beyond pushback tractors.
Our target for next year is to start mass production for all ranges of tractors at the new factory, which includes a warehouse, oven-drying, painting, welding and sandblasting areas, and high-capacity cranes in an 18,000m² manufacturing area. After we start using the full capacity of all our factories, we will mass-produce all of our products and add new GSE to our production line. This will include the full range of electric cargo tractors, including lithium battery-powered ones.
