Turkish Airlines is planning to further expand its network in China by adding Chengdu to its fourth list of destinations in mainland China this upcoming winter. The airline plans to commence a new flight route to the capital of Sichuan province on Nov. 11, 2026, with three flights per week in both directions.
Istanbul-Chengdu Weekly Routes
Turkish Airlines already flies from Istanbul, Turkey, to three of China’s airports, including Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), with Chengdu becoming the fourth.
Outbound flights will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with return services operating on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The airline plans to use the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the new route, offering economy and business class. According to Boeing, the 787-9 Dreamliner is designed to be efficient and versatile, allowing airlines to offer non-stop routes, expand networks, and fly passengers in exceptional comfort.
Chengdu’s Capacity and Profitability
Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province and home to more than 21 million Chinese nationals. Chengdu has become one of China’s leading cities, hosting international companies in sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, technology and software development.
As part of the route’s debut this winter, travel sites will offer round-trip economy tickets for the Istanbul-Chengdu and Chengdu-Istanbul routes from $540, and business-class round-trips from Istanbul-Chengdu and Chengdu-Istanbul will be priced from $1,991.
The expansion reflects larger capacity and profitability to accommodate the Asian network. Turkish Airlines’ chief financial officer, Metin Gülşen, said:
“Asia remained our strongest performing market during the second quarter. Demand continued to benefit from changes in competitive landscape following the conflict in the Middle East, as a portion of passengers shifted away from the Gulf toward alternative routings. We responded by further expanding capacity across key markets, including China, Hong Kong, Thailand, among others.”
Turkish Airlines’ CEO strategy and statement
Turkish Airlines CEO Ahmet Olmuştur said China holds a vital place among the company’s strategic markets. Olmuştur stated:
“With the launch of flights to Chengdu, one of China’s most important tourism, technology and aviation centres and a city holding the title of ‘UNESCO City of Gastronomy’, we are further strengthening our flight network in the country.”
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