TBM Staff - Mumbai
Turkish Airlines is expanding its presence in the United States, targeting six new destinations: Philadelphia, Charlotte, Orlando, Minneapolis, Phoenix, and Raleigh/Las Vegas. This expansion will bring the airline’s total number of US destinations to 20, according to its chairman, Ahmet Bolat.
Currently, Turkish Airlines operates in New York, Newark, Washington DC, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle.
The new destinations are less competitive in international aviation, with Charlotte being the first Middle East carrier to operate at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Turkish Airlines will be the only European airline to serve Philadelphia, which has ceased to be a destination for Qatar Airways, Air Canada, and Air France. The airline will also be the only Middle East carrier to operate in Minneapolis and Phoenix.
Turkish Airlines’ US network expansion plans include having a total of 20 or more destinations in America. Phoenix, Arizona, may fuel the airline’s US network growth, as it has most of American Airlines’ hubs in its network. If Turkish Airlines starts operating flights to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor Int. Airport, it will be the first Middle East airline to compete with Air France and British Airways in the region.
The airline’s expansion plans come with challenges, as Lufthansa and British Airways operate one-stop flights between some of these destinations and India. Additionally, American Airlines and Qatar Airways code-share on flights from these cities to India, which may give competition to Turkish Airlines. However, Turkish Airlines’ one-check-in baggage policy for cheap economy flights to India and the USA could be an advantage. However, it may lose out on premium economy business to Lufthansa and British Airways, which are known for their premium economy travel offerings to India and the USA.
