Turkish Airlines chairman Ahmet Bolat has identified four U.S. cities as the next candidates for the carrier’s expanding transatlantic network, according to a June 2024 interview with Travel Weekly.
Speaking in Denver shortly after the airline’s inaugural flight to the city, Bolat said Turkish Airlines plans to add Charlotte (CLT), Minneapolis (MSP), Orlando (MCO) and Philadelphia (PHL) to its U.S. route map. The carrier currently serves 14 U.S. destinations, and Bolat stated that the total would rise to 20, implying two additional cities beyond the four named, though those were not disclosed.
Turkish Airlines began serving the U.S. in August 1988 with flights from Istanbul to New York (JFK) via Brussels (BRU). Its current U.S. network includes Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
The airline, which operates to more than 100 countries, has been expanding its long-haul fleet with Boeing 787s and Airbus A350s, enabling thinner routes that were previously uneconomical. Bolat’s comments underscore the carrier’s ambition to deepen its footprint in the world’s largest aviation market.
Why it matters
For the travel trade, Turkish Airlines’ U.S. expansion would increase competition on routes to Istanbul, a major hub connecting Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Tour operators and DMCs serving Türkiye could benefit from improved access for U.S. leisure and business travellers, particularly to secondary cities that currently lack nonstop service. The addition of Charlotte and Philadelphia would also strengthen the Star Alliance network in the eastern U.S., offering more feed for connecting itineraries.
However, the timeline for launching these routes remains unconfirmed. The airline has not publicly updated its plans since Bolat’s 2024 remarks, and no launch dates or aircraft assignments have been announced. Industry observers will watch for regulatory approvals and slot availability at the candidate airports.
