Turkish Airlines Outlines Network Priorities
Turkish Airlines has updated its route development priorities, outlining 25 cities globally that it intends to add to its network.
The Star Alliance member has released its latest list of future destinations, which includes eight international points in Europe, four in the Americas, nine in the Middle East and Africa, and two in the Asia-Pacific region. Two domestic points in Turkey are also included.
Among the destinations listed is Atyrau, a city in western Kazakhstan on the Caspian Sea. Turkish Airlines currently serves four destinations in Kazakhstan, flying up to double-daily to Almaty, daily to Astana and 2X-weekly to both Aktau and Turkistan.
Should the carrier launch a route to Atyrau Airport (GUW), it would become GUW’s second connection to Istanbul Airport alongside Air Astana’s 3X-weekly service. Other European routes offered from GUW include Air Astana’s flights to Amsterdam; Antalya, Turkey; and Kutaisi, Georgia. Russia’s Aeroflot also operates to the city from Moscow Sheremetyevo.
Turkish Airlines’ list of other future destinations includes other seven international points in Europe—namely Bergen, Norway; Glasgow, Scotland; Iasi and Timisoara, Romania; Katowice, Poland; Nantes, France; and Newcastle, England—alongside domestic points Bayburt and Yozgat in Turkey.
In the Middle East and Africa, the Star Alliance member is eyeing flights to Abha, Saudi Arabia; Aswan, Egypt; Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo; Hargeisa, Somaliland; Lome, Togo; Port Sudan, Sudan; Salalah, Oman; and Windhoek, Namibia.
Two points in the Asia-Pacific region have been earmarked as future destinations—to Phnom Penh, Cambodia; and Sydney, Australia—as well as four in the Americas region to Lima, Peru; Orlando, U.S.; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Santiago, Chile.
Turkish Airlines has already said it intends to add Santiago “based on market conditions” and could make Sydney its second destination in Australia before the end of the year. Speaking at the Farnborough Airshow in July, Chairman Ahmet Bolat told Aviation Week that the carrier will either increase frequencies to Melbourne or add a new route to Sydney.
“We will grow in Australia,” Bolat said. “Maybe in two years we’ll have daily flights to both Melbourne and Sydney, but later this year we’ll either increase the frequency of Melbourne or add Sydney. We are still debating.”
Turkish Airlines increased its passenger traffic by 7.7% in the second quarter of 2024, carrying 22.1 million passengers. Its capacity during the period was 38% higher than pre-pandemic levels, despite aircraft delivery delays and groundings.
