Turkish Airlines proud of role in promoting bilateral ties

China has long been a premium and valuable source of both leisure and business travelers for Turkish Airlines and the carrier aims to strengthen its role as a bridge between the two countries as China-Turkiye relations gain momentum, said Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines Murat Seker.

"We are a leading connector that bridges East and West through our uniquely located home base, Istanbul. As we increase the connectivity, more Chinese business and leisure travelers will come to Turkiye," he told China Daily in an exclusive interview during last week's Farnborough International Airshow 2026.

"Our ambition is to build a strategic aviation bridge that supports tourism, trade, technology, investment, and cultural exchange between Turkiye and China by combining cultural understanding, digital convenience, and personalized service across every touch-point," he added.

An agreement reached by the Chinese and Turkish civil aviation authorities last May increased the number of permitted weekly flights for each of the countries to the other from 21 to 49, paving the way for Turkish Airlines to add capacity.

The agreement is thought to mark the first increase in flight rights between the two countries for about 15 years.

Since last October, Turkiye's flag carrier has boosted its China schedule to 31 weekly flights, with its Beijing and Guangzhou routes each rising from seven to 10 weekly flights and its Shanghai service growing from seven to 11.

Seker said Turkish Airlines also plans to launch services to Chengdu in Southwest China and to Xi'an and Urumqi in Northwest China.

The developments come as China and Turkiye have expanded economic and tourism exchanges in recent years.

Turkiye introduced visa-free entry for holders of ordinary Chinese passports for tourism and transit purposes on Jan 2, meaning Chinese travelers can stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa.

Data from the Turkish authorities show the number of Chinese visitors to Turkiye surged 43 percent year-on-year, to 111,720, in the first quarter of 2026.

"Our network in China will expand even more this November with the launch of Chengdu, one of China's most dynamic economic and cultural centers," Seker said. "Looking ahead, we see tremendous opportunities to further strengthen our presence by adding more capacity and even better global connectivity for Chinese travelers."

Drawing on Turkiye's strategic position at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Turkish Airlines currently connects 358 destinations across 133 countries.

The airline has interline agreements with 12 Chinese carriers, which allow passengers from cities across China to connect to its international services via Istanbul, while booking the journey on a special offer and checking their baggage through to their final destination.

Seker said such partnerships represent a win-win for Turkish Airlines and its Chinese counterparts.

The airline is also looking to scale-up its cargo operations in China, given China's position as a global manufacturing powerhouse, Seker said.

In 2025, China-Turkiye bilateral trade exceeded $44.62 billion. China is Turkiye's largest source of imports and a key trading partner.

Economic ties are further supported by an alignment between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Turkiye's Middle Corridor, which together strengthen East-West connectivity and facilitate global trade and supply chains.

Seker added that he hopes Turkish Airlines can extend its network further into eastern and southern China, including commercially vibrant cities such as Hangzhou and Shenzhen.

Beyond connectivity, he also sees promising opportunities for cooperation with Chinese partners in finance, maintenance, repair, and overhauls, as well as across the broader aviation supply chain.

"In the aviation ecosystem, China is very strong; it is not just that it has COMAC and eVTOL – there are also a lot of other manufacturers. In the future, we may have opportunities to collaborate in a broader aviation ecosystem," he said.