Turkish Airlines Expands U.S. Network, Doubles Pre-Pandemic Capacity

Turkish Airlines has significantly expanded its U.S. network with the addition of a new route to Denver, aiming to double its pre-pandemic capacity to the country during peak summer months.

Denver International Airport (DEN) now joins Turkish Airlines’ portfolio as its 14th destination in the U.S., bolstering the Colorado airport’s international network to 31 nonstop destinations across 17 countries—the most in its history.

Initially operating three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from Istanbul Airport (IST), flights to Denver will increase to four times weekly starting July 9. The inaugural service was launched using a Boeing 777-300, with plans to transition to Airbus A350-900 aircraft for the 6,111-mile route.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston highlighted the economic benefits, estimating the new Turkish Airlines service will generate over $54 million annually for Colorado’s economy and create approximately 350 new jobs statewide. The route also marks Denver’s longest flight, surpassing United Airlines’ service to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport by about 338 miles.

Since its inception in August 1988 with flights to New York via Brussels, Turkish Airlines has steadily expanded its U.S. presence. Post-pandemic expansions include five new routes and increased frequencies to existing destinations, such as Dallas-Fort Worth, New York Liberty, Seattle-Tacoma, and Detroit.

Analysis from OAG Schedules Analyser indicates Turkish Airlines plans to operate 151 weekly flights from Turkey to the U.S. by peak summer—a significant increase from 75 flights in 2019. Capacity for the July-September period is set to reach 1.3 million seats, marking a 14% year-on-year rise and doubling the seats offered in Q3 2019.

Looking ahead, Turkish Airlines eyes Orlando as its next U.S. destination, building on existing Florida operations to Miami. With plans to tap into the European and Middle Eastern market at Orlando International Airport (MCO), Turkish Airlines aims to attract passengers from its extensive network in India and Southeast Asia, alongside Istanbul’s local leisure travelers.

As of May 2024, Turkish Airlines reported carrying 32.8 million passengers—a 5.7% increase from the previous year—and operates with a fleet of 456 aircraft, with expectations to welcome its 500th aircraft by 2025.