Turkish Airlines is expanding its horizons with plans to target Minneapolis, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Orlando as future U.S. destinations. This was announced by the airline’s chairman, Ahmet Bolat, during an interview on June 11 in Denver, where Turkish Airlines had landed for the first time earlier that day.
The carrier has commenced services to Denver with three flights per week, with an increase to four times weekly scheduled for July 9. Denver marks Turkish Airlines’ 14th U.S. route, all originating from Istanbul.
“The number of destinations will go up to 20 in the U.S.,” Bolat stated confidently. However, he did not provide a specific timeline for these developments or the launch of the next U.S. route. The immediate focus, according to Bolat, is to increase the frequency of the Istanbul-Detroit service, launched in November, to daily from its current six times per week. Similarly, the Denver service is also expected to become a daily route.
Turkish Airlines, a member of the Star Alliance, currently serves 347 destinations in 130 countries. The airline has 75 Airbus A350 widebody aircraft on order, with options for 15 more. Additionally, Turkish Airlines is considering an order for the Boeing 777x, contingent on the aircraft’s certification and performance, Bolat mentioned.
These orders are integral to Turkish Airlines’ ambitious plan to double its capacity over the next decade. The airline aims to expand its fleet from approximately 460 planes today to around 810, including its low-cost brand, AJet.
In addition to increasing its U.S. routes, Turkish Airlines plans to use its growing fleet to boost capacity in Africa and enhance frequencies across its network, particularly in Asia. Bolat highlighted that increasing frequencies will strengthen the airline’s position in the East-West connecting market, where it competes with major carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways.
Turkish Airlines, which is 49% state-owned, also intends to add about 50 new destinations to its already extensive route network. However, Bolat noted that the number of strong options for new routes is diminishing.
With these strategic expansions and fleet enhancements, Turkish Airlines is poised to solidify its global presence and connectivity, reinforcing its role as a major player in international aviation.
