Turkish Airlines has been building its network between the U.S. and Istanbul (IST) like crazy lately, adding nonstop flights from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), and several other cities in just the last few years. Next on the list? Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), apparently.
That’s according to the airline’s chairman, Ahmet Bolat, who pegged the midwestern hub as its next U.S. destination during an address at the airline’s annual management summit over the weekend. According to a translation of Turkish media first spotted by Ishrion Aviation, Bolat said nonstops between Minneapolis and Istanbul could begin “in April or May.”
But don’t start planning your trip to Turkey just yet, Minnesotans.
The airline hasn’t yet made an official announcement, and flights aren’t on sale. Bolat didn’t put a date on when service might commence nor provide any additional details, like how often the airline would fly to and from Minneapolis or what kind of plane they’d use on the route. Representatives from both Turkish Airlines and the Minneapolis airport did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the potential of nonstop service from Minnesota to Istanbul.
Plus, Turkey’s flag carrier has a track record of hinting at new nonstop routes long before they’re ready. Case in point: The airline first announced it would fly to Denver way back in 2021 … but it took nearly three full years for that route to actually take flight last summer.
Bolat himself first put Minneapolis on the map last summer in an interview outlining the airline’s targets for expanding to a total of 20 U.S. cities. He mentioned Minneapolis, Orlando (MCO), Charlotte (CLT), and Philadelphia as prime candidates for nonstop flights to Istanbul.
The airline has been on a tear coming out of the pandemic, adding new nonstops to Dallas, Seattle (SEA), Detroit, and Denver within just the last few years. With dozens of additional widebody planes coming over the next several years, the airline simply needs to find more places for those new planes to fly.
And while Istanbul and the rest of Turkey will no doubt attract throngs of travelers, Turkish can get U.S. travelers practically anywhere with a quick stop. From Africa to the Middle East and even north into mainland Europe, Turkish Airlines is all about connecting travelers through Istanbul to their final destination. And they can do it: No airline in the world flies nonstop to more destinations than Turkish.
Minneapolis makes a lot of sense as the next addition. After Lufthansa announced it would cede its route to Frankfurt (FRA) to a leisure subsidiary airline and Condor exits Minneapolis altogether, Turkish may sense an opportunity to swoop in and pick up lots of connecting traffic – particularly over to Africa, given Minnesota’s large East African population.
Turkish is perhaps best known for its stellar business class, with some of the best catering and service you’ll find in the sky and excellent lounges in Istanbul. And while the airline’s Boeing 777s that fly to many U.S. hubs feature a fairly outdated and crowded cabin, its new Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350s are equipped with far more modern and comfortable lie-flat seats.
Read our full review of flying Turkish Airlines business class!
The airline would be a welcome addition in Minneapolis, whose travelers have been practically starved for airlines to give Delta’s dominance (and high prices) at the Midwestern hub a serious challenge.
They got their wish last year as not one but two carriers began flying: Aer Lingus brought back nonstop flights to Dublin (DUB) last spring while Lufthansa commenced its first (short-lived) route to Frankfurt over the summer. Adding Turkish – which isn’t part of Delta’s SkyTeam alliance but teams up with the Star Alliance like Lufthansa – within just a few years would provide yet another jolt of competition.
