Air China to Launch Direct Flights to Istanbul, Boosting Connectivity with Turkey

Air China Boeing 747-400

Air China is set to inaugurate a new nonstop flight route to Istanbul, significantly enhancing air connectivity between China and Turkey. This development marks Istanbul’s second new air link to mainland China in just three months, further establishing its position as a key international aviation hub.

Scheduled to begin on December 29, the new service will operate between Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Istanbul Airport (IST). According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, the flight, covering a distance of 4,385 miles (3,810 nautical miles), will run three times a week utilizing Airbus A330-200 aircraft. This addition by Air China follows closely on the heels of China Eastern Airlines, which commenced a thrice-weekly service from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Istanbul on September 28, after signing a memorandum of understanding with Turkish Airlines for closer cooperation.

Upon launching its flights, Air China will join the ranks of carriers providing direct connections between Beijing and Istanbul. Turkish Airlines, a Star Alliance partner of Air China, already operates daily flights on the PEK-IST route with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Additionally, China Southern Airlines offers a thrice-weekly service between Beijing Daxing International Airport and IST using A330 aircraft.

Starting in early January, Air China’s new route will contribute approximately 1,422 two-way seats weekly between the two cities. This will give Air China a 17.7% share of the route’s total capacity. Turkish Airlines currently holds the majority capacity share at 61%, followed by China Southern Airlines with 21.3%. Overall, the new service will increase the total seat capacity between Istanbul and Beijing to around 8,000 two-way seats, representing a rise of about 22% compared to pre-pandemic levels.

In terms of passenger traffic, Air China reported handling 10.4 million passengers in November 2023, an increase of 11.4% compared to the same month in 2019. However, it’s important to note that international traffic for the airline was still 41% lower, with 803,300 passengers.

The launch of Air China’s Istanbul service is a significant step in bolstering direct air links between China and Turkey, offering enhanced travel options for passengers and promising to strengthen the economic and cultural ties between the two countries.