Turkish Airlines has revealed plans to add flights to two additional cities in the United States. Given how many destinations Turkish Airlines already serves here, I think neither of these should come as too much of a surprise.
In this post:
Turkish Airlines adding flights to Detroit & Seattle
Turkish Airlines announced plans to start operating scheduled flights from Istanbul (IST) to both Detroit (DTW) and Seattle (SEA). As of now no further details have been provided, like the start dates, frequencies, schedules, aircraft types, etc. However, I imagine that will be announced in the near future.
Turkish Airlines’ process for announcing new routes is rather odd. The airline posted this update on its investor relations page, which seems to be the first step for the airline to launch a route. For example, in June Turkish Airlines made a similar announcement for flights to Dallas & Denver — the Dallas flight has now launched, while there’s no further update on the Denver flight yet.
Turkish Airlines has historically flown to more countries than any other airline, and already has an extensive network in the United States. With these two new routes (and the Denver route), Turkish Airlines will serve a total of 14 cities in the United States. The airline otherwise flies to Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington.
My take on Turkish Airlines’ latest expansion
It’s always awesome to see airlines add new routes, especially when we’re talking about an airline as global as Turkish Airlines. Given how many places Turkish Airlines already flies to in the United States, I’d say Detroit and Seattle are logically among the next cities you’d expect from the airline. Interestingly neither city is a Star Alliance hub, though, so I’d expect there to be limited connecting traffic, given Turkish Airlines’ lack of partnerships in the United States with other carriers.
- Seattle has been growing at a fast pace, and in the past decade we’ve seen a countless number of foreign airlines add service to the airport
- Seattle is a hub for Alaska Airlines (oneworld) and Delta Air Lines (SkyTeam), though there’s also some long haul Star Alliance service on airlines like All Nippon Airways, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines
- While Turkish Airlines has a slightly different market than the “big three” Gulf carriers, there is also some overlap, and both Emirates Airline and Qatar Airways fly to Seattle
- Seattle is an incredibly international city, and Turkish Airlines should open up one stop connectivity to several new destinations
Detroit is perhaps a bit more surprising of an add, but I can still see the logic:
- Detroit is a Delta hub, and the airport has fairly limited service from non-SkyTeam carriers
- Detroit has a large metropolitan area, with lots of people with ties to countries that are well served by Turkish Airlines
- I’d say the only somewhat comparable service to Detroit right now is on Royal Jordanian, which flies to Amman via Montreal
Bottom line
While details are limited so far, Turkish Airlines has officially announced plans to add flights to both Detroit and Seattle. It’s great to see Turkish Airlines continue to expand, given all the one-stop itineraries that the airline makes possible.
What do you make of Turkish Airlines launching flights to Detroit and Seattle? Which city surprises you more?
(Tip of the hat to @IshrionA)
Does anyone have more information regarding Turkish starting service from Detroit. It will be very helpful for all the South Asian and middle eastern population who had to Goto Chicago or Toronto to catch Turkish airline.
Kudos to Turkish Airline.
THAT GREAT TO HEAR ABOUT TURKISH AIR OPERATING FROM DETROIT.
THIS SECTOR WILL GIVE A GOOD PROFIT TO TURKISH AIR DUE TO THE PAKISTANI POPULATION AND INDIAN AND ARABIC PEOPLES
I THINK IT WILL BE SUCCESSFULL SECTOR FOR TURKISH AIR
KHAN. MICHIGAN USA
I am hoping Turkish Air lines coming to Detroit soon. There is lot opportunity to do business here in Detroit. This is the Motor city of USA. There are large Arab, Indian and Bangladeshi Community here.
DTW -TO IST- what date they will start flight?
Good to here that Turkish Airlines is going to have direct flights from Detroit (DTW) to Istanbul (IST); I think it will be a good thinking to have a flight like this due to the following reason.
a) Lot of peoples are living in and around Detroit, who have to go to their final locations (specially Southeast Asia) through flights with 2(two) / 3(three) stopovers. Sometimes, the layover is even 9(nine) to 10(ten) hours before...
Good to here that Turkish Airlines is going to have direct flights from Detroit (DTW) to Istanbul (IST); I think it will be a good thinking to have a flight like this due to the following reason.
a) Lot of peoples are living in and around Detroit, who have to go to their final locations (specially Southeast Asia) through flights with 2(two) / 3(three) stopovers. Sometimes, the layover is even 9(nine) to 10(ten) hours before long haul flight i.e. 13(thirteen) or 14(fourteen) hours flight, which is very tedious. A flight like this will be a good choice for them.
b) There are so many old aged persons who actually do not like a continuous flight of 14(fourteen) hours. So, it will be a good option for them also.
c) Lot of Muslim peoples are in Michigan, who wants to visit the historical places of islam; which I think will make the route more viable.
Any update about Detroit route?
It will be very convenient for most of the Michiganders.
Emirates, Etihad or Qatar would have been more valuable additions to Detroit. I for one am hesitant to fly via Turkey when it is not so stable, politically. There's a large South Asian population who otherwise have to put up with the inferior food on Lufthansa or Delta codeshares (Air France, KLM). The Gulf airlines have far better food.
Also - I doubt brown people would be let out of Frankfurt, Paris or Amsterdam...
Emirates, Etihad or Qatar would have been more valuable additions to Detroit. I for one am hesitant to fly via Turkey when it is not so stable, politically. There's a large South Asian population who otherwise have to put up with the inferior food on Lufthansa or Delta codeshares (Air France, KLM). The Gulf airlines have far better food.
Also - I doubt brown people would be let out of Frankfurt, Paris or Amsterdam airport for an overnight hotel stay, in case their flight got delayed. UAE and Qatar don't have this issue.
I think Emirates, Qatar would be very good and more valuable addition from Detroit. Many of them are eagerly waiting for this addition. It will be very convenient for most of the Michiganders.
Istanbul "politically unstable" Turkey does not affect you or anyone who visits Turkey, so I do not understand your logic, Turkey is not under treat of civil war or any kind of danger to any tourists, why would you even suggest political issues would have anything to do with anyone who is just visiting! Political issues are economic issues, work related issues, no concern to you or any other non citizens.
Please be mind...
Istanbul "politically unstable" Turkey does not affect you or anyone who visits Turkey, so I do not understand your logic, Turkey is not under treat of civil war or any kind of danger to any tourists, why would you even suggest political issues would have anything to do with anyone who is just visiting! Political issues are economic issues, work related issues, no concern to you or any other non citizens.
Please be mind writing when you write about someone else's country.
Very timely. Turkish community in Seattle needs Turkish airline flights to and from Istanbul.
I need contact person presenting Turkish airlines in Johannesburg.
This will be great opportunity for Turkish airlines to serve the middle eastern and asian passengers. Currently, most of the southeast asian passengers are taking Qatar airlines to fly from DTW via Chicago or Boston. Turkish airline will be able to serve those passengers from Detroit. It would be helpful if Turkish airlines announces the date when they will start flights from Detroit.
With Detroit having a huge Arab population from Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, Turkish Air adding service to Detroit make sense. So far Jordan Air is only middle eastern airline to serve Detroit.
Tell us about toronto to new Delhi
Love PIA 14 hour non stop service from Toronto to Karachi; also to Lahore and Islamabad. Toronto is only 4 hour from Detroit and has plenty of Park and Fly hotels making it very convenient to fly out of Toronto.
I can’t wait to see Turkish airline in Detroit. I am sure many people will use it to travel to Middle East and Asian countries.Thanks
Having a flight from DTW would be an amazing. Huge population of Middle Eastern, South Asian and central Asian countries live in Michigan. Currently, these communities have to travel to Chicago, Toronto or to a different city to get the particular airline to reach at their destination. Welcome Turkish airline, you'll not be disappointed as communities from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and some parts of Ontario are ready to welcome you.... Also, Michigan auto industry has...
Having a flight from DTW would be an amazing. Huge population of Middle Eastern, South Asian and central Asian countries live in Michigan. Currently, these communities have to travel to Chicago, Toronto or to a different city to get the particular airline to reach at their destination. Welcome Turkish airline, you'll not be disappointed as communities from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and some parts of Ontario are ready to welcome you.... Also, Michigan auto industry has businesses all over the world, tons of businesses and employees will be excited too
This would be wonderful start if Turkish air line start flights from Detroit.This would save a lot of time for people flying from Detroit to Pakistan,India ,Bangladesh,and South Africa if they were traveling before through middle eastern air lines.I would love to travel with Turkish air line from Detroit.
Excellent and timely decision by the Turkish Airlines. It will be great help for the Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Largest Middle Eastern population living in the USA in Michigan State (Detroit). With direct flight from Detroit (DTW) to Istanbul (IST) and then fast and direct connection to any other European cities and other south Asian/middle east cities will help thousands of passengers by saving valuable time and money. Many small airports in USA like Philadelphia,...
Excellent and timely decision by the Turkish Airlines. It will be great help for the Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Largest Middle Eastern population living in the USA in Michigan State (Detroit). With direct flight from Detroit (DTW) to Istanbul (IST) and then fast and direct connection to any other European cities and other south Asian/middle east cities will help thousands of passengers by saving valuable time and money. Many small airports in USA like Philadelphia, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, La Guardia, Washington, Virginia, Tampa airports are attracting many world class airlines like Emirates, Qatar, Etihad,.... but they missed the opportunity to serve the largest Middle eastern & South Asian population from Detroit. A large number of Bangladeshi Sylheti people travel to UK and Bangladesh. Their number is estimated around 100,000 in Michigan. People from Indiana, Ohio, and from Canadian cities like Toronto, London, Windsor will also be benefitted from this TK flight from Detroit.
This is a great news for people living in Detroit and Michigan state. It will immensely help the South Asian Diaspora and Middle eastern population. European destination will be much easier through Turkish airlines as well. Currently Michiganders are travelling to Chicago, Toronto and even to smaller airports like Philadelphia(PHL), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Dallas (DFW), Boston, LGA, BWI,SAN, IAD,SLC, DCA, to travel to South Asian cities and middle eastern cities.
Current statistics from Detroit...
This is a great news for people living in Detroit and Michigan state. It will immensely help the South Asian Diaspora and Middle eastern population. European destination will be much easier through Turkish airlines as well. Currently Michiganders are travelling to Chicago, Toronto and even to smaller airports like Philadelphia(PHL), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Dallas (DFW), Boston, LGA, BWI,SAN, IAD,SLC, DCA, to travel to South Asian cities and middle eastern cities.
Current statistics from Detroit airport (DTW): every day 140+ NONSTOP DESTINATIONS
36.7M ANNUAL PASSENGERS (2019)
6 RUNWAYS
18TH BUSIEST AND 10TH LARGEST AIRPORT IN THE USA (2018-2020)
HUB FOR DELTA AND SPIRIT AIRLINES
Runways: Total 6 run ways. Runway configuration of four parallel and two crosswind runways.
Size: 4,850 Acres (10th largest in the USA)
Rank by busiest airports: 18th busiest in the USA (36,8 Million passengers)
People are waiting to have services from other world class airlines (Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Turkish, Singapore, Cathay Pacific) to start operation from Detroit and they will make lots of money and at the same time people living in Michigan, USA will be benefitted.
Great thank you offering us a flight from Seattle I can’t weight till it start visiting historical place of Istanbul and connecting to Africa.
Thanks
Welcome Turkish Airlines flight
The journey of Turkish Airlines is very good and excellent service. Is very reliable and commendable
Turkish air is great airline with good connections to the Balkans for people from metro Detroit area !
Healthy competition with RJ and convenience in international travel to destinations around the world. Welcome Turkish Airlines.
I can’t wait to see Turkish airline in Detroit. I am sure many people will use it to travel to Middle East and Asian countries
This is a very welcoming news for South/Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern communities in and around Detroit. Michigan. We have been waiting long for this to happen. Prior to this, many communities here in Michigan tried many times with the local politicians, and news media, with petitions, however, for some 'unseen' reason, it could never be materialized. I am sure, Turkish Airline will be immensely benefitted by this decision. The only question is when is...
This is a very welcoming news for South/Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern communities in and around Detroit. Michigan. We have been waiting long for this to happen. Prior to this, many communities here in Michigan tried many times with the local politicians, and news media, with petitions, however, for some 'unseen' reason, it could never be materialized. I am sure, Turkish Airline will be immensely benefitted by this decision. The only question is when is this going to start!
We’re so excited about the direct flight! There are a lot of Turkish people who live in Seattle. Which month will start the direct fllghts between İstanbul and Seattle?
We were very pleasantly surprised how much better Turkish Airline was than the US Global airlines, United, Delta, American.. Their food and service was awesome. Staff on all flights was very friendly and genuine. We are looking forward to travel on it from Seattle.. Seattle is getting a great Global Airline.
Detroit will be good for TK business & for the Detroit & Windsor Canadian population.
Big three Automotive giant & there suppliers along with large Middle Eastern, Balkan & South Asian population its make a good business case. My past business trips to Istanbul from Chicago were hectic with this Detroit addition I like to be first one to hop for Istanbul.
Outside the Middle East, Detroit has the largest Arab population. It is a shame that Delta never cashed that opportunity. So now someone else will.
You are %100 right who ever comes to Detroit they can grab Canada market too witch is nit far from Toronto's large over seas community
Detroit itself has large community of Asians Arabs and others
Good luck
As an alternative to the ME3 (really 2, just EK and QR), TK is a viable alternative to India and the Middle East, without as much backtracking. It also provides good connection opportunities to Eastern Europe, especially secondary cities (albeit a bit circuitous in route). They also have a big network in Southern and Eastern Africa as well. From the East Coast, they are a good alternative to SE Asia as well.
The Detroit Metro area has a huge Arab origin population, and very little direct or one stop service to that area from Delta, so it makes perfect sense to me. A much stronger alternative than Royal Jordanian I would think!
TK will offer a one-stop connection through IST, whereas RJ passengers have to put up with a Montreal and Amman connection, beyond Jordan.
TK will do well.
There is also a ton of Indian traffic through IST, especially when it comes to The Punjab area, and northern Indian states.
Where do they fly to in Punjab and northern India, besides Delhi which is served by many other airlines? Just wondering why TK would get more punjabis.
Seattle - Large south asian population.
Detroit area - huge middle eastern population.
Like others said:
SEA = huge South Asian population (and would connect to Air India).
DTW = huge Arab population, with lots of travel to Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq. Its why Royal Jordanian flies there. These aren't business travelers so alliance membership isn't a factor.
With DEN, they'll hit all Star Alliance hubs in North America.
Detroit not that surprising given the large middle eastern population there and particularly in Dearborn area, given TK's connectivity to muchof the region. This is also why Royal Jordanian has been serving there for many years.
As a Greek, probably won't fly Turkish (lol just kidding) but any international competition out of Detroit is great news!
Lufthansa Group is missing a golden opportunity to drum up a lot of business in DTW by blocking nonstops to Vienna. Austrian Airlines is the only other airline that could compete for the same customers Turkish is targeting in DTW (and there are tons of them).
Now that we can drive across the border, great to see DTW.
Anything to not have to fly AC is a plus!
But do serve food or still have cost-cutting...I mean, health protocol...measures in place that prevent them from offering food on flights, or real snacks in the lounge?
I flew TK multiple times in the pandemic, and the penny-pinching kept getting worse, so much so that in my mind now they really aren't much more than a ULC carrier. Maybe they're back to normal now, but those experiences are hard to shake.
What are you talking about? There is full service on flights to and from the US with chefs onboard...2 of them on all flights actually.
I'm talking about my personal experiences flying TK during the pandemic. None of them were long haul, none of them had any food, snacks, or drinks, even in business.
You may also be aware that TK severely pulled back their catering and other in-flight services for longhaul flights, too. I'm quite surprised that you have no idea what I'm talking about.
Taking measures against pandemic and quality of serving food snacks are different things. We traveled with TK to US twice this year. Service was as good as it was before Covid19. TK used to be awarded repeatedly as best for it’s such services. FYI.
DEN is my home airport and I was really happy to see the announcement. Wishing they'd come through with some details soon on the launch.
The only thing I heard about the Seattle flight is that it will not be a 7 day/week service. There will be everyday service to the Pacific Northwest area with 3-4 day/week service to Seattle and 3-4 day/week service to Vancouver.
Detroit is surprising. What is next? They have been expanding like crazy. Philadelphia is missing from the map.