Turkish Airlines is expanding its presence in China with the launch of scheduled flights to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, from November 11, 2026. Chengdu will become the airline’s fourth mainland Chinese destination after Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, strengthening its connectivity with one of the country’s major business and technology centres.
The airline will operate three weekly Istanbul-Chengdu services using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, with 300 seats comprising 30 Business Class and 270 Economy Class seats. Flights from Istanbul will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, while return services will run on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Chengdu, home to more than 21 million people, is a significant hub for trade, logistics and finance, with multinational companies active in electronics, automotive, aviation, biotechnology and artificial intelligence. The UNESCO-recognised “City of Gastronomy” is also a major tourism destination, known for Sichuan cuisine and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
Turkish Airlines CEO Ahmet Olmuştur said China remains a strategically important market and that the new route would support commercial, cultural and tourism ties between Türkiye and China.
Introductory fares start at USD 540 for Economy Class and USD 1,991 for Business Class. Fares are available through the airline’s official website and sales channels.
In Kolkata, the new route could provide corporate travellers, exporters, technology professionals and tourists from eastern India with another connecting option to Chengdu and other Chinese markets through Istanbul.
Turkish Airlines, a Star Alliance member, operates 565 passenger and cargo aircraft serving 358 destinations across 133 countries.
