Turkish Airlines (THY) increased the number of weekly passenger flights to China to 31 as of 26 October 2025, up from 21 previously, according to an announcement made in August 2025 by the carrier's CEO, Bilal Ekşi.
Ekşi said at the time that the expanded schedule would comprise 10 weekly flights to Beijing, 11 to Shanghai and 10 to Guangzhou. The move followed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed earlier in 2025 between Türkiye and China in civil aviation, which raised the permitted number of weekly passenger flights between the two countries from 21 to 49.
The increase came against a backdrop of deepening bilateral economic ties. In 2024, Ankara and Beijing signed a memorandum to boost, develop and encourage cooperation in the field of tourism. Trade volume between the two countries has also grown over the years, and China is one of the top countries from which Türkiye sources its goods.
At the time of the announcement, the new flights were expected to add further momentum to tourist flows between the two countries.
Why it matters
The expansion brought Turkish Airlines' China operation closer to the full allowance under the bilateral agreement, leaving headroom for further growth. For tour operators and DMCs, the additional capacity on the Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou routes supports inbound tourism from China, a key source market, and improves outbound options for Turkish travellers.
The increase also reflects the broader policy direction set by the two governments, including the tourism cooperation memorandum signed in 2024. With the bilateral cap set at 49 weekly flights, the carrier retains scope to add services if demand continues to rise, which could influence route planning and pricing strategies for the upcoming seasons.
