Turkey and China Double Weekly Flight Rights
Turkey and China have concluded a landmark air services memorandum of understanding, more than doubling permitted weekly passenger flights between the two countries for the first time in 15 years. The agreement, reached during high-level talks in Beijing, increases bilateral frequencies from 21 to 49 per week and grants Turkish carriers rights to serve Chengdu, Urumqi and Xi’an for the first time.
Under the previous pact, Turkish Airlines operated 21 weekly services from Istanbul to Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, while five Chinese carriers dispersed their 21 frequencies across five city pairs. With this expansion, carriers on both sides will now be able to add capacity on existing routes and launch new services, strengthening air connectivity and offering travelers and cargo shippers greater flexibility.
Turkey’s General Administration of Civil Aviation described the pact as the beginning of a new era in air transportation relations. By enabling Turkish airlines to increase frequencies to China’s major economic hubs, the authority said the agreement will boost Turkey’s civil aviation connectivity throughout Asia and beyond, supporting tourism growth, business travel and trade.
Recovery in the Turkey–China market has been swift. Sabre Market Intelligence data shows two-way origin-and-destination traffic reached about 555,000 passengers in 2024, up from 267,000 in 2023 and surpassing the 449,000 recorded in 2019. The stepped-up frequencies will accommodate growing demand for direct links between Turkey’s gateway cities and China’s rapidly expanding regional centers.
Chinese carriers have already begun planning new services to capitalize on the additional rights. Aviation Week reports that China Eastern Airlines will inaugurate a thrice-weekly Xi’an–Istanbul route on June 30, 2026, deploying Airbus A330-200 aircraft. This will become the carrier’s second service to Turkey and its first link between Shaanxi province and Europe.
In 2024, the busiest Turkey–China city pair was Istanbul–Shanghai, with 150,369 passengers, followed by Istanbul–Beijing at 97,800 and Istanbul–Guangzhou at 84,400. The new frequencies will allow both Turkish and Chinese carriers to add frequency or upgrade equipment on these high-volume routes, as well as to explore new links from Istanbul to Chengdu, Urumqi and Xi’an.
Beyond passenger travel, the expanded air services agreement is expected to spur growth in air cargo traffic. Bilateral trade between Turkey and China reached approximately $42.9 billion in 2024, according to China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry. Airlines and freight forwarders anticipate that higher passenger flight rights will ease belly cargo capacity constraints and lower freight costs.
Industry analysts say the expanded air services pact reflects deepening economic ties and tourism potential. Chinese tourists have shown increasing interest in Turkey’s cultural landmarks, beaches and urban attractions, while Turkish investors value direct air links to China’s major business centers. The new agreement will enable tour operators and corporate travel managers to offer more convenient schedules and competitive fares.
As both sides prepare to implement their expanded flight schedules, airport authorities in Istanbul and key Chinese cities are gearing up for increased operations. Ground-handling services, slot allocations and terminal capacity will be reviewed to accommodate the surge in weekly flights. Airlines are also in discussions with civil aviation regulators on slot coordination and seasonal schedule adjustments.
With weekly passenger rights more than doubled and three new Chinese destinations added to the Turkish network, the Turkey–China air services memorandum promises to transform connectivity between Europe and Asia. Travelers will benefit from greater choice and frequency, while businesses and cargo operators will gain improved logistics links, reinforcing the strategic partnership between Ankara and Beijing.
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