Turkish Airlines has recently announced an expansion of its service to mainland China for the summer of 2026, maintaining and increasing the number of flights from its hub in Istanbul International Airport (IST) to many Chinese cities, including Beijing (PEK), Guangzhou (CAN), and Shanghai (PVG).
Why has Turkish Airlines made this decision?
The decision to expand their services to China has come from a demand to strengthen tourism and ties between Türkiye and China in an effort to add more long-haul routes to their domain. China is fastly becoming a tourist destination globally after relaxing tourist visa requirements for many nations.
The services have been endorsed by a 2024 billing agreement between both countries to raise the number of weekly flights to different hotspots.
Where will these new flights be heading?
From March 29, 2026, Turkish Airlines will continue to fly to Beijing ten times weekly on Boeing 777s and 787s. This is a U-turn from the previous schedule that would see flights to Beijing stop completely. Morning flights to the Chinese capital will be served on a 777, with afternoon flights on the 787 Dreamliner.
Guangzhou Bairyn will also be served by ten flights weekly from Istanbul, served by 777s and 787 Dreamliners, respectively. Several services to Shanghai Pudong are also expected to be added to the schedule for the Northern Hemisphere’s summer period, increasing from seven flights a week to ten. These are expected to start from May 11, 2026.
Will you be flying with Turkish Airlines to China this summer? Let us know in the comments.
