Turkish Airlines (THY) has launched its first flight to Santiago, the capital of Chile and its 10th destination in the Americas. With flights operating four times a week, this new route ranks among the airline’s longest journeys.
Known for flying to the most countries worldwide, Turkish Airlines continues to expand its South American network, adding Santiago to its growing list of destinations. The flight departs Istanbul, makes a stop in São Paulo, and then continues to Santiago.
A 19-Hour Marathon Flight
THY’s Santiago route is a two-stage journey spanning 19 hours and 10 minutes in total. The first leg, from Istanbul to São Paulo, takes 13 hours and 15 minutes. After a 1-hour and 35-minute layover in São Paulo, the flight resumes for another 3 hours and 45 minutes to Santiago.
This route is now the airline’s second-longest. Initially operated with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, the route will soon transition to more modern Airbus A350-900 planes.
THY CEO’s Remark: “A Record on the Horizon?”
Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi shared a notable remark on social media about the Santiago route:
“Could this be a record-worthy flight? Turkey grows stronger, THY flies higher.”
Bir rekor belgesi gelir mi acaba? 😲
Biz tekrar söyleyelim. 🙂
Türkiye 🇹🇷 büyüyor, THY yüksekten uçuyor ✈️ https://t.co/PoJT9HexHe
— Bilal EKŞİ (@BilalEksiTHY) December 17, 2024
THY’s Expansion in South America
Turkish Airlines began its South America operations with flights from Senegal to São Paulo. It then added connections from São Paulo to Buenos Aires. The Santiago route now further extends its network. The next destinations planned are Lima, the capital of Peru, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s iconic city.
Santiago Flight Schedule
- Istanbul-São Paulo: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, departing at 14:50.
- São Paulo-Santiago: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, departing at 06:05.
- Santiago-São Paulo: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, departing at 11:55.
- São Paulo-Istanbul: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, departing at 17:05.
Competition and Market Landscape
In the Santiago market, THY faces competition from major airlines, including Air France, Lufthansa, and British Airways. Air France operates daily flights from Paris, Lufthansa offers three flights weekly from Frankfurt, and British Airways flies four days a week from London.
Chile’s local carrier, LATAM, remains a strong player in Santiago, while LATAM and THY also partner on flights through Frankfurt and Heathrow.
THY’s Longest Flights
The new Santiago route joins Turkish Airlines’ list of longest flights:
- Istanbul-Kuala Lumpur-Sydney: Totaling 19 hours and 40 minutes.
- Istanbul-Singapore-Melbourne: Totaling 18 hours.
- Istanbul-Mexico City-Cancun: Totaling 18 hours and 50 minutes.
Future Plans
According to Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat, Santiago is just the beginning of THY’s further expansion in South America, with Lima and Rio de Janeiro already in the pipeline. With these new routes, THY aims to establish a broader network across the continent.
© AeroHaber.com
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