Turkish Airlines launches direct Istanbul-Chengdu flights

Dhaka: Turkish Airlines has launched scheduled flights to Chengdu, raising the number of mainland Chinese cities in its network to four.

The inaugural flight took place on November 11. The capital of Sichuan province joins Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou on the carrier’s list of destinations in mainland China.

The airline will operate three weekly services between Istanbul Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport using its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.

Flights from Istanbul will depart every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, while return flights from Chengdu will operate every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Speaking at an event after the inaugural flight, Turkish Airlines Chairman Prof. Murat Seker said China remains one of the carrier's strategic markets. He described Chengdu as one of the country's most important tourism, technology, and aviation centers.

"We believe this new route will contribute to the development of commercial, cultural, and tourism relations between Türkiye and China," he added.

Chengdu, with a population of over 21 million, is a major commercial, logistics, and financial hub in western China. The city hosts international companies in electronics, automotive manufacturing, aviation, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence.

The city is also known for its Sichuan cuisine and is recognized as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. It also draws visitors to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

Turkish Airlines is offering introductory round-trip fares starting at USD 540 on the new route. The promotional fares are available on its official website, while prices may differ at sales offices and travel agencies.

Founded in 1933, the Star Alliance member currently operates a fleet of 571 passenger and cargo aircraft. It serves 359 destinations across 133 countries, comprising 306 international and 53 domestic destinations.