Turkish Airlines announced plans to expand its flights to two more cities in the United States. It shouldn't surprise me that Turkish Airlines serves so many cities in the United States.
Turkish Airlines adds flights to Detroit & Seattle
Turkish Airlines announced plans for scheduled flights between Istanbul (IST), and both Detroit (DTW), and Seattle (SEA). No further information has been released, including the dates and frequencies of operations, schedules, aircraft types, or other details. But, I expect that this will be announced soon.
The Turkish Airlines procedure for announcing new routes seems rather strange. This update was posted on the airline's investor relations page. It seems that this is the first step in launching a new route. Turkish Airlines announced in June that it was making a similar announcement about flights to Dallas and Denver. However, there is no update yet on the Denver flight.
Turkish Airlines has flown to more countries than any other airline in history and has a large network of flights throughout the United States. Turkish Airlines will now serve 14 cities across the United States with these new routes and the Denver route. Other destinations include Atlanta, Boston and Chicago, Dallas, Houston. Los Angeles, Miami (New York), Newark, San Francisco and Washington.
Turkish will be serving a total of 14 US airports
My thoughts on Turkish Airlines' latest expansion
It's always exciting to see airlines add new routes, especially when you consider Turkish Airlines is so global. Given the number of places Turkish Airlines flies to in the United States I would say that Seattle and Detroit are the obvious next cities the airline should be targeting. It is interesting that neither of these cities are Star Alliance hubs, but I would expect limited connecting traffic due to the lack of Turkish Airlines partnerships with other airlines in the United States.
Seattle is the place to be.
Seattle is growing rapidly. In the last decade, we've seen many foreign airlines adding service to the airport.
Seattle is the hub of Alaska Airlines (oneworld), and Delta Air Lines(SkyTeam). However, there are also long-haul Star Alliance services on airlines such as All Nippon Airways and Lufthansa.
Although Turkish Airlines operates in a different market to the three major Gulf carriers, there are some similarities. Both Emirates Airline (Emirates Airline) and Qatar Airways both fly to Seattle.
Seattle is a very international city. Turkish Airlines should provide one-stop connectivity to many new destinations.
Seattle is an Alaska Airlines and oneworld hub
Detroit may be a little more surprising, but I still see the logic.
Detroit is a Delta hub. The airport offers very limited service to non-SkyTeam airlines.
Detroit is home to a large metro area with many people who have ties to Turkey.
Royal Jordanian is the closest comparable service to Detroit at the moment. It flies from Montreal to Amman via Montreal.
Royal Jordanian also fly to Detroit
Bottom line
Although details are still scarce, Turkish Airlines officially announced plans for adding flights to Detroit and Seattle. Given the many one-stop itineraries offered by Turkish Airlines, it is great to see Turkish Airlines expand.
What do you think of Turkish Airlines' new flights to Detroit, Seattle and other cities? Which city surprise you more?
(Tip of my hat to @IshrionA
