Turkish Airlines launches flights to Chengdu, expanding its mainland China network to four cities

A new route to western China

Turkish Airlines has launched regular flights to Chengdu, expanding its presence in mainland China to four cities — the capital of Sichuan province has joined Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, the airline said (Anadolu). Flights are operated three times a week on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner between the Istanbul airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport: from Istanbul on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and back from Chengdu on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

What is known about the route and the city

At an event marking the inaugural flight, the carrier's chairman of the board, Murat Seker, called China one of the company's strategic markets and said he believed the new destination would help develop trade, cultural and tourism ties between Turkey and China. Introductory round-trip fares start at $540 when purchased on the official website; prices at sales offices and agencies may differ.

Context

Chengdu, with a population of more than 21 million, is a major commercial, logistics and financial hub of western China, home to international companies in electronics, automotive, aviation, biotechnology and artificial intelligence. The city is also known for its Sichuan cuisine and its giant panda breeding center. The carrier itself, founded in 1933 and a member of Star Alliance, operates a fleet of 571 passenger and cargo aircraft serving 359 destinations in 133 countries. The announcement does not mention any direct connection of the new route to Uzbekistan; for local passengers it may be of interest as an additional connection via the Istanbul hub.